Recap: Oil futures pared early gains after the EIA report showed U.S. crude oil stockpiles increasing by the most since March. Futures in New York climbed as much as 1.5% earlier in the session on Thursday. Domestic crude inventories increased more than 6 million barrels last week as refineries decreased operating rates, according to an EIA report. The industry-funded American Petroleum Institute had reported a 5.21 million-barrel gain in crude inventories. Meanwhile, supplies at the nation’s biggest storage hub at Cushing, OK, slid by the most since June. The International Energy Agency became the latest to say natural gas shortages are boosting demand for crude. November WTI rose 87 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $81.31 a barrel after hitting a high at $81.68. December Brent added 82 cents, or 1%, to $84 a barrel, down from an intraday high of $84.50. The RBOB crack spread surged to its highest level since early September on Wednesday, while the ICE gasoil crack rallied to its strongest since March 2020. Higher crude prices will lead to growing backwardation, while a lack of producer hedging will help push up longer-dated prices. November gasoline edged up by 1.2% to $2.435 a gallon, marking the sixth straight session of gains. November heating oil added 1.6% to $2.561 a gallon.
Technical Analysis: Once again, WTI re-entered the upper trend line on the ascending channel that can depicted on a daily spot continuation chart and failed to settle below it. Despite a two-day pullback, the oil market remains well support by increasing demand expectations. Bulls are betting that soaring natural gas prices will force power generators to switch from natural gas to oil in order to meet demand for the winter heating season. The upside momentum for this market remains strong, which could push prices to fresh seven-year highs. At this point, it doesn’t seem like the Biden Administration’s pressure on U.S. oil and gas producers to bring down rising fuel costs is going to work because the energy crunch is a global issue. Therefore, we remain bullish on this market and look for WTI to reach the $85 level. Support is seen at $79 and below that at $75.
Fundamental News: The International Energy Agency said a global energy crunch is expected to increase oil demand by 500,000 bpd and could stoke inflation and slow the world's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It stated that "record coal and gas prices as well as rolling blackouts are prompting the power sector and energy-intensive industries to turn to oil to keep the lights on and operations humming". It also stated that “higher energy prices are also adding to inflationary pressures that, along with power outages, could lead to lower industrial activity and a slowdown in the economic recovery". As a result, global oil demand next year is now projected to recover to pre-pandemic levels. The IEA said the natural gas, LNG and coal shortages could keep the oil market in deficit to at least the end of the year. The IEA estimated that OPEC+ is set to pump 700,000 bpd below the estimated demand for its crude in the fourth quarter of this year, meaning demand will outpace supply at least until the end of 2021. It also stated that OPEC+ effective spare capacity could fall below 4 million bpd by the second quarter of 2022 from 9 million bpd in the first quarter of 2021. It stated that shrinking global spare capacity underscores the need for increased investment to meet future demand. It revised its 2021 and 2022 oil demand forecast upwards by 170,000 bpd to 5.5 million bpd and by 210,000 bpd to 3.3 million bpd, respectively. Demand in 2021 is forecast to increase to 96.3 million bpd, compared with a previous estimate of 96.1 million bpd. Oil demand is expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2022, increasing to 99.6 million bpd. The IEA said OECD stocks fell by 23 million barrels in September and are at their lowest level since March 2015.
Saudi Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said the OPEC+ group stuck to its previous agreement on raising output last week as it wants to gradually reduce excess oil production capacity left after the pandemic. Saudi Arabia dismissed calls for speedier oil output increases, saying its efforts with allies were enough and protecting the oil market from the wild price swings seen in natural gas and coal markets.
Diesel imports into Europe were set to reach 3.5 million tons in October, sharply down from September’s 4.48 million tons.
Early Market Call - as of 8:20 AM EDT
WTI - Nov $ 81.89 up 0.59
RBOB - Nov $2.4683 up 0.0333
HO - Nov $ 2.5927 up 0.0312
View the Sprague Refined Products Market Watch Report in a downloadable pdf format by clicking below.
Click to view more online:
Heating Oil Supplier
Diesel Supplier
View market updates
View our refined products glossary
Go to SpraguePORT online
This market update is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as advice on any transaction nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell commodities. Sprague makes no representations or warranties with respect to the contents of such news, including, without limitation, its accuracy and completeness, and Sprague shall not be responsible for the consequence of reliance upon any opinions, statements, projections and analyses presented herein or for any omission or error in fact. The views expressed in this material are through the period as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This document contains certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance or results and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied, or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without Sprague’s express written consent.