Bleeding Has Stopped For Energy Prices
The bleeding has stopped for energy prices, temporarily at least, after another DOE-inspired tidal wave of selling knocked prices to fresh multi-month lows Wednesday. If the tentative early gains can hold, it would snap a 6-day losing streak for gasoline futures that have wiped out more than 25 cents/gallon. (As I was about to hit send, the 2 cent gains from 30 minutes ago have turned into losses, which suggests it’s too soon to declare an end to the meltdown.)
Stock markets seem to be happy that negotiations are underway between US & Mexican representatives in an effort to avoid another tariff battle. Although energy and equity prices have detached from one another recently, those discussions could have direct impacts on US refiners who are weighing in to try and avoid paying more for imported crude, and for exported products should a retaliatory tax battle break out.
US Oil production reached a new all-time high at 12.4 million barrels/day last week, that’s 1.5 million barrels/day more than 1 year ago, and more than 3 million barrels/day more than 2 years ago.
Diesel demand remains dismal with last week’s estimate from the DOE marking the lowest level for May in the past 7 years.
Gasoline stocks continued to build, led by the largest weekly increase in PADD 5 (West Coast) inventories in more than 20 years. The past 3 weeks have seen PADD 5 gas stocks move from below their 5 year seasonal range to the top end of it as record imports flooded the market to take advantage of the high prices created in the wake of numerous unplanned refinery issues. Based on the industry’s uncanny knack for over-healing its wounds, it would not be surprising to continue to see builds in the coming weeks even though supplies are now ample.
You know a market is bearish when…one of the country’s largest refineries reports operational issues due to storms and prices barely flinch.
The heavy rains sweeping across the country continues to threaten many states already fighting flood waters. Reports Wednesday indicated that Exxon was facing multiple unit shutdowns at its Baytown TX plant, one of the country’s largest refineries. Gulf coast gasoline and basis values moved modestly higher on the day, and it did not seem to move the needle in futures markets, but it’s another reminder that we’re starting off the hurricane season with refineries in an unusually vulnerable spot due to the spring rains.
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Crude Oil Inventories Climbed Above Year-Ago Levels For The First Time In 2024
Sell by May then go away.
The old trading adage looked good for energy markets in 2024 as the new month started off with the biggest daily sell-off of the year so far. WTI and ULSD contracts are now in “rally or else” mode on the charts with sharply lower prices a strong possibility now that technical support layers have broken down. RBOB doesn’t look quite as bearish on the charts, but seasonal factors will now act as a headwind as we’re well into the spring peaking window for gasoline prices, and we’ve already seen a 27 cent drop from the highs. If RBOB can hold above $2.50 there’s a chance to avoid a larger selloff, but if not, a run towards $2.20 for both gasoline and diesel looks likely in the months ahead.
The selling picked up steam following the DOE’s weekly report Wednesday, even though the inventory changes were fairly small. Crude oil inventories continue their steady build and climbed above year-ago levels for the first time in 2024. Demand for refined products remains sluggish, even after accounting for the RD consumption that’s still not in the weekly reports, and most PADDs are following a typical seasonal inventory trend. The Gulf Coast saw a healthy build in diesel inventories last week as the export market slowed for a 3rd straight week. Refinery runs dipped modestly last week following a handful of upsets across the country, but overall rates remain near normal levels for this time of year.
The Transmountain pipeline expansion began operations yesterday, completing a 12-year saga that has the potential to materially change refining economics for plants in the US that relied heavily on discounted Canadian crude to turn profits over the past decade.
The P66 Borger refinery reported another operational upset Monday that lasted a full 24 hours impacting a sulfur recovery unit. Last week the company highlighted how the plant’s fire department helped the surrounding area when the largest wildfire in state history came within feet of the facility.
The EPA approved a new model to determine life cycle carbon intensity scores this week, which cracks open the door for things like ethanol to SAF, which were previously deemed to not reduce emissions enough to qualify for government subsidies. The new model would require improved farming techniques like no-till, cover crop planting and using higher efficiency nitrogen fertilizer to limit the damage done by farms that no longer rotate crops due to the ethanol mandates. Whether or not the theoretical ability to produce SAF comes to fruition in the coming years thanks to the increased tax credit potential will be a key pivot point for some markets that find themselves with too much RD today, but could see those supplies transition to aviation demand.
The FED continues to throw cold water on anyone hoping for a near term cut in interest rates. The FOMC held rates steady as expected Wednesday, but also highlighted the struggles with stubbornly high inflation. The CME’s Fedwatch tool gave 58% odds of at least one rate cut by September before the announcement, and those odds have slipped modestly to 54% this morning.
Week 17 - US DOE Inventory Recap
The Energy Complex Is Trading Modestly Lower So Far This Morning With WTI Crude Oil Futures Leading The Way
The energy complex is trading modestly lower so far this morning with WTI crude oil futures leading the way, exchanging hands $1.50 per barrel lower (-1.9%) than Tuesday’s settlement price. Gasoline and diesel futures are following suit, dropping .0390 and .0280 per gallon, respectively.
A surprise crude oil build (one that doesn’t include any changes to the SPR) as reported by the American Petroleum Institute late Tuesday is taking credit for the bearish trading seen this morning. The Institute estimated an increase in crude inventories of ~5 million barrels and drop in both refined product stocks of 1.5-2.2 million barrels for the week ending April 26. The Department of Energy’s official report is due out at it’s regular time (9:30 CDT) this morning.
The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing at 9:00 AM EST this morning regarding a years-long probe into climate change messaging from big oil companies. Following a 3-year investigation, Senate and House Democrats released their final report yesterday alleging major oil companies have internally recognized the impacts of fossil fuels on the climate since as far back as the 1960s, while privately lobbying against climate legislation and publicly presenting a narrative that undermines a connection between the two. Whether this will have a tangible effect on policy or is just the latest announcement in an election-yeardeluge is yet to be seen.
Speaking of deluge, another drone attack was launched against Russian infrastructure earlier this morning, causing an explosion and subsequent fire at Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery. While likely a response to the five killed from Russian missile strikes in Odesa and Kharkiv, Kyiv has yet to officially claim responsibility for the attack that successfully struck state infrastructure just 130 miles from Moscow.
The crude oil bears are on a tear this past week, blowing past WTI’s 5 and 10 day moving averages on Monday and opening below it’s 50-day MA this morning. The $80 level is likely a key resistance level, below which the path is open for the American oil benchmark to drop to the $75 level in short order.
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