Recap: Oil prices fell sharply on Wednesday, after the EIA report reflected a 2.2 million barrel build in U.S. crude inventories. Analysts were expecting a decrease of 481,000 barrels. Today’s report put U.S. crude oil inventories at their highest level since July of 2017 and about 8% above the five-year average for this time of year. After reacting negatively to the inventory report, both Brent and WTI slipped into a 3 hour period of sideways trading before slipping to the downside once again. In post-settlement trading, August Brent broke out of its mid-day range of $60.82 and $61.13 and fell to a fresh session low of $59.57, a loss of 4.3%. July WTI broke out of its mid-day range of $51.61 to $51.91, to a fresh low of $50.72. August Brent settled at $59.97 a barrel, down $2.32, or 3.72%, while July WTI fell $2.13, or 4%, to settle at $51.14 a barrel. Both contracts settle at nearly 5-month lows. July RBOB fell 4% to $1.686 a gallon, while July heating oil shed 2.3% to $1.780 a gallon.
Technical Analysis: Moving oscillators for WTI crossed to the downside in deep over sold territory, a strong indication of underlying weakness. Despite Wednesday’s lower move, we would not jump on the bear bandwagon until we get a break and retest of the $50.00 level, as this level has proven to be an area of strong support. Below $50.00, additional support is set at $48.40 and $47.50. The 10-day moving average, which is currently set at $53.27, has proven to be a strong area of resistance. Above this level, additional resistance is set at $55.00.
Fundamental News: Goldman Sachs stated that an uncertain macroeconomic outlook and volatile oil production from Iran and others could lead OPEC to roll over supply cuts. It expects core OPEC to continue to balance the market on a monthly basis. The bank also forecast third quarter Brent crude at $65.50/barrel given the upcoming de-bottlenecking of the Permian Basin. It maintained its forecast for 2-year forward WTI prices at $50/barrel.
Libya’s National Oil Corp said production at Libya’s Sarir oil field fell due to a fire at the field’s power station over the weekend, as well as other technical issues at the site. Compound 1 at the site experienced a fire on Sunday when an electric generator overheated, resulting in production loss of about 30,000 bpd.
Reuters reported that Algeria has suggested the idea of increasing the size of the production cut by OPEC+ producers for the second half of 2019 as it expects global demand to falter. The production pact which is slated to end this month had called for the producers to cut 1.2 million b/d of combined production. Algeria is suggesting increasing the production cutback to 1.8 million b/d. The Reuters source said the results of Trump’s meeting with the Chinese president at the upcoming G-20 meeting would be key in determining the group’s production policy going forward .
Euroilstock reported that European crude and oil products stocks in May fell by 0.1% on the month and by 0.5% on the year to 1.094 billion barrels. European crude stocks in May increased by 1.3% on the month but fell by 3.5% on the year to 485.6 million barrels, while gasoline stocks fell by 1.1% on the month but increased by 7.7% on the year to 118.58 million barrels and middle distillates stocks fell by 1.7% on the month but increased by 1.7% on the year to 398.4 million barrels.
IIR Energy reported that US oil refiners are expected to shut in 350,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending June 14th, increasing available refining capacity by 273,000 bpd from the previous week. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 238,000 bpd in the week ending June 21st.
Early Market Call - as of 7:45 AM EDT
WTI - July $52.98, up $1.84
RBOB - July $1.7213, up 3.54 cents
HO - July $1.8279, up 4.81 cents
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.