Ceiling On Energy Prices Remains Intact
The ceiling on energy prices is intact for now and futures are slipping after failing to break through to the upside on Wednesday. A pair of negative monthly reports from OPEC and the IEA are getting credit for the pullback, while technicians will tell you this type of selling is normal when chart resistance repels a rally. The drop in prices after a dramatic November rally has been minor (and as this is being written WTI has moved back into positive territory) suggesting we are likely to see another test of that price ceiling again in the near future.
OPEC’s monthly report reduced its demand outlook as consumption in the America’s was below expectations and new COVID-containment measures in Europe are reducing transportation. In addition to the worsening demand outlook, the OPEC report showed the cartel’s output increased in October as Libyan production (which is exempt from the output cut agreement) started to come back online. What could be worse is that Libyan output increased to 454,000 barrels/day in October, and is expected to reach one million barrels/day in November, putting more pressure on the market.
There has been concern that the regime change in the U.S. may mean more Iranian oil comes back to the world market just in time for no one to need it, further adding to the bleak fundamental outlook. Not so fast, according to a new IAEA report, Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is 12 times the agreed upon amount, making the removal of sanctions much more complicated, and making it less likely that the world will smile upon a new deal this year.
The IEA’s monthly oil report shows a similar pattern as OPEC with demand expectations slipping while supply increases. The IEA’s report also threw some cold water on the vaccine optimism that swept global markets earlier in the week suggesting there will not be a significant impact in the first half of 2021. The count of global refinery permanent shutdowns stands at 1.7 million barrels/day, but “Significant structural overcapacity” remains with approximately 20 million barrels/day of temporarily idled distillation capacity worldwide, suggesting more closures are coming.
Right on cue, Scotland’s lone refinery announced that two units idled due to the drop in demand this year will be shuttered permanently.
Eta made a second landfall in Florida north of Tampa this morning, as a tropical storm with sustained winds around 50 mph and is moving across the state, heading for Jacksonville this afternoon before reemerging in the Atlantic. The storm’s path and relative lack of strength means it should not disrupt port traffic for long. The tropical wave churning in the Caribbean now has 90% odds of being named, and we should know early next week if it will be yet another Gulf Coast threat.
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Energy Markets Are Ticking Modestly Higher This Morning But Remain Well Off The Highs Set Early Thursday
Energy markets are ticking modestly higher this morning but remain well off the highs set early Thursday following the reports that Russia was temporarily banning most refined product exports.
The law of government intervention and unintended consequences: Russian officials claim the export ban is an effort to promote market stability, and right on cue, its gasoline prices plummeted a not-so-stable 10% following the news.
There’s a saying that bull markets don’t end due to bad news, they end when the market stops rallying on good news. It’s possible that if ULSD futures continue lower after failing to sustain yesterday’s rally, or this morning’s, we could be seeing the end of the most recent bull run. That said, it’s still much too soon to call the top here, particularly with a steepening forward curve leaving prices susceptible to a squeeze, and the winter-demand months still ahead of us. Short term we need to see ULSD hold above $3.30 next week to avoid breaking its weekly trend line.
The sell-off in RIN values picked up steam Thursday, with 2023 D4 and D6 values dropping to the $1.02 range before finally finding a bid later in the session and ending the day around $1.07.
Tropical Storm Ophelia is expected to be named today, before making landfall on the North Carolina coast tomorrow. This isn’t a major storm, and there aren’t any refineries in its path, so it’s unlikely to do much to disrupt supply, but it will dump heavy rain several of the major East Coast markets so it will likely hamper demand through the weekend. The other storm system being tracked by the NHC is now given 90% odds of being named next week, but its predicted path has shifted north as it moves across the Atlantic, which suggests it is more likely to stay out to sea like Nigel did than threaten either the Gulf or East Coasts.
Exxon reported an upset at its Baytown refinery that’s been ongoing for the past 24 hours. It’s still unclear which units are impacted by this event, and whether or not it will have meaningful impacts on output. Total’s Pt Arthur facility also reported an upset yesterday, but that event lasted less than 90 minutes. Like most upsets in the region recently, traders seem to be shrugging off the news with gulf coast basis values not moving much.
Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk.
The Yo-Yo Action In Diesel Continues With Each Day Alternating Between Big Gains And Big Losses So Far This Week
The yo-yo action in diesel continues with each day alternating between big gains and big losses so far this week. Today’s 11-cent rally is being blamed on reports that Russia is cutting exports of refined products effective immediately. It’s been a while since Russian sabre rattling has driven a noticeable price move in energy futures, after being a common occurrence at the start of the war. Just like tweets from our prior President however, these types of announcements seem to have a diminishing shelf-life, particularly given how the industry has adapted to the change in Russian export flows, so don’t be surprised if the early rally loses steam later today.
The announcement also helped gasoline prices rally 5-cents off of their overnight lows, and cling to modest gains just above a penny in the early going. Before the announcement, RBOB futures were poised for a 5th straight day of losses.
IF the export ban lasts, that would be good news for US refiners that have seen their buyers in south American countries – most notably Brazil – reduce their purchases in favor of discounted barrels from Russia this year.
US refinery runs dropped below year-ago levels for the first time in 6 weeks, with PADDS 1, 2 and 3 all seeing large declines at the start of a busy fall maintenance schedule. Oil inventories continued to decline, despite the drop-in run rates and a big increase in the adjustment factor as oil exports surged back north of 5 million barrels/day. Keep in mind that as recently as 2011 the US only produced 5 million barrels of oil every day, and exports were mostly banned until 2016, so to be sending this many barrels overseas is truly a game changer for the global market.
Chicken or the egg? Cushing OK oil stocks dropped below year-ago levels for the first time since January last week, which may be caused by the return of backwardation incenting shippers to lower inventory levels, the shift to new WTI Midland and Houston contracts as the export market expands. Of course, the low inventory levels are also blamed for causing the backwardation in crude oil prices, and the shift to an export market may keep inventories at the NYMEX hub lower for longer as fewer shippers want to go inland with their barrels.
Refined product inventories remain near the bottom end of their seasonal ranges, with a healthy recovery in demand after last week’s holiday hangover helping keep stocks in check. The biggest mover was a large jump in PADD 5 distillates, which was foreshadowed by the 30 cent drop in basis values the day prior. The big story for gasoline on the week was a surge in exports to the highest level of the year, which is helping keep inventories relatively tight despite the driving season having ended 2 weeks ago.
As expected, the FED held rates yesterday, but the open market committee also included a note that they expected to raise rates one more time this year, which sparked a selloff in equity markets that trickled over into energy prices Wednesday afternoon. The correlation between energy and equities has been non-existent of late, and already this morning we’re seeing products up despite equities pointing lower, so it doesn’t look like the FOMC announcement will have a lasting impact on fuel prices this time around.