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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Refined Products Are Moving Lower For A 2nd Day After Coming Under Heavy Selling Pressure In Wednesday’s Session
Refined products are moving lower for a 2nd day after coming under heavy selling pressure in Wednesday’s session. Rapidly increasing refinery runs and sluggish diesel demand both seemed to weigh heavily on product prices, while crude oil is still benefitting from the disruption of exports from Iraq. Prices remain range-bound, so expect more choppy back and forth action in the weeks ahead.
US oil inventories saw a large decline last week, despite another 13-million barrels of oil being found in the weekly adjustment figure, as imports dropped to a 2-year low, and refinery runs cranked up in most regions as many facilities return from spring maintenance.
The refining utilization percentage jumped to its highest level of the year but remains overstated since the new 250,000 barrels/day of output from Exxon’s Beaumont facility still isn’t being counted in the official capacity figures. If you’re shocked that the government report could have such a glaring omission, then you haven’t been paying attention to the Crude Adjustment figure this year, and the artificially inflated petroleum demand estimates that have come with it.
Speaking of which, we’re now just a couple of months away from WTI Midland crude oil being included in the Dated Brent index, and given the uncertainty in the US over what should be classified as oil vs condensate, expect some confusion once those barrels start being included in the international benchmark as well.
Diesel demand continues to hover near the lowest levels we’ve seen for the first quarter in the past 20+ years, dropping sharply again last week after 2 straight weeks of increases had some markets hoping that the worst was behind us. Now that we’re moving out of the heating season, we’ll soon get more clarity on how on road and industrial demand is holding up on its own in the weekly figures that have been heavily influenced by the winter that wasn’t across large parts of the country.
Speaking of which, the EIA offered another mea culpa of sorts Wednesday by comparing its October Winter Fuels outlook to the current reality, which shows a huge reduction in heating demand vs expectations just 6-months ago.
It’s not just domestic consumption of diesel that’s under pressure, exports have fallen below their 5-year average as buyers in South America are buying more Russian barrels, and European nations are getting more from new facilities in the Middle East.
Take a look at the spike in PADD 5 gasoline imports last week to get a feel for how the region may soon be forced to adjust to rapidly increasing refining capacity in Asia, while domestic facilities come under pressure.
Crude Oil Prices Are Trying To Lead Another Rally In Energy Futures This Morning
Crude oil prices are trying to lead another rally in energy futures this morning, while ULSD prices are resisting the pull higher. Stocks are pointed higher in the early going as no news is seen as good news in the banking crisis.
WTI prices have rallied by $10/barrel in the past 7 trading days, even with a $5 pullback last Thursday and Friday. The recovery puts WTI back in the top half of its March trading range but there’s still another $7 to go before the highs of the month are threatened.
Yesterday’s API report seems to be aiding the continued strength in crude, with a 6 million barrel inventory decline estimated by the industry group last week. That report also showed a decline of 5.9 million barrels of gasoline which is consistent with the spring pattern of drawdowns as we move through the RVP transition, while distillates saw a build of 550k barrels. The DOE’s weekly report is due out at its normal time this morning.
Diesel prices seems to be reacting both to the small build in inventories – which is yet another data point of the weak demand so far this year for distillates – and on the back of crumbling natural gas prices that settled at their lowest levels in 2.5 years yesterday and fell below $2/million BTU this morning.
While diesel futures are soft, rack markets across the Southwestern US remain unusually tight, with spreads vs spot markets approaching $1/gallon in several cases as local refiners go through maintenance and pipeline capacity for resupply remains limited. The tightest supply in the region however remains the Phoenix CBG boutique gasoline grade which is going for $1.20/gallon over spots as several of the few refineries that can make that product are having to perform maintenance at the same time.
French refinery strikes continue for a 4th week and are estimated to be keeping close to 1 million barrels/day of fuel production offline, which is roughly 90% of French capacity and almost 1% of total global capacity. That disruption is having numerous ripple effects on crude oil markets in the Atlantic basin, while the impact on refined product supplies and prices remains much more contained than it was when this happened just 5 months ago.
Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk.