July WTI crude oil (CLN26) on Wednesday closed down -5.21 (-5.55%), and July RBOB gasoline (RBN26) closed down -0.0798 (-2.54%). Crude oil and gasoline prices on Wednesday fell sharply for a second day, with crude posting a 5-week low and gasoline posting a 6-week low. Crude prices are under pressure in hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran that could soon reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude prices sold off on Wednesday after Iranian television said it obtained an unofficial draft of the US-Iran memorandum, which said US military forces would lift the naval blockade of Iran while Iran would allow restored commercial transit shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, crude prices recovered from their lows when US officials said the unofficial draft obtained by Iranian state television is a “complete fabrication” and “not true.”
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On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that the US and Iran have agreed to a memorandum extending the ceasefire by 60 days as the two sides seek a permanent deal. If agreed, the Strait of Hormuz would be de-mined and reopened in the meantime. Secretary of State Rubio said negotiations will still “take a few days” as both sides discuss language in an initial document.
Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a monthly report that global observed oil inventories declined at about 4 million bpd in March and April, and that the market will remain “severely undersupplied” until October, even if the conflict ends next month.
Energy prices remain underpinned by the US-Iran war, which is keeping the Strait of Hormuz essentially closed. The ongoing conflict is exacerbating global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June. Persian Gulf oil producers have been forced to cut production by roughly 6% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as local storage facilities reach capacity. Earlier this month, the IEA said that more than 80 energy facilities had been damaged during the conflict, and that recovery could take as long as 2 years.
In a bearish factor for crude, OPEC delegates said on May 14 that the cartel aims to continue a series of oil quota increases over the next few months, completing the return of halted oil production by the end of September. The group already formally agreed to restore about two-thirds of the 1.65 million bpd supply cutback it made back in 2023 and said it plans to raise output targets further and to revive the final portion in three more monthly stages. On May 3, OPEC+ said it will boost its crude output by 188,000 bpd in June after raising production by 206,000 bpd in May, although any production hike now seems unlikely given that Middle East producers are being forced to cut production due to the Middle East war. OPEC’s April crude production fell by -420,000 bpd to a 35-year low of 20.55 million bpd.
Vortexa reported on Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least 7 days fell -18% w/w to 87.05 million bbl in the week ended May 22.
The most recent US-brokered meeting in Geneva to end the war between Russia and Ukraine ended early as Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia of dragging out the war. Russia has said the “territorial issue” remains unresolved with Ukraine, and there’s “no hope of achieving a long-term settlement” to the war until Russia’s demand for territory in Ukraine is accepted. The outlook for the Russia-Ukraine war to continue will keep restrictions on Russian crude in place and is bullish for oil prices.
Ukrainian drone and missile attacks have targeted at least 30 Russian refineries over the past ten months, limiting Russia’s crude oil export capabilities and reducing global oil supplies. There were at least 21 Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s refineries, export terminals, and oil pipeline infrastructure in April, knocking Russia’s average refinery runs to 4.69 million bpd, the lowest in 16 years, according to Bloomberg data. Also, US and EU sanctions on Russian oil companies, infrastructure, and tankers have curbed Russian oil exports.
The consensus is that Thursday’s weekly EIA crude inventories fell by -3.0 million bbl, and gasoline supplies fell by -2.287 million bbl.
Last Wednesday’s EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of May 15 were -1.7% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -4.6% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -9.0% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending May 15 fell -0.1% w/w to 13.702 million bpd, mildly below the record high of 13.862 million bpd posted in the week of November 7.
Baker Hughes reported last Friday that the number of active US oil rigs in the week ended May 22 rose by +10 to a 10.5-month high of 425 rigs, well above the 4.25-year low of 406 rigs posted in the week ended December 19. Over the past 2.5 years, the number of US oil rigs has fallen sharply from the 5.5-year high of 627 rigs reported in December 2022.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
