Energy Futures Tread Water To Start Last Week Of July
Energy futures are treading water to start the last week of July, and US equity markets are seeing small losses after reaching fresh record highs Friday.
Although volatility has dropped in both energy and equity markets since spiking a week ago, things aren’t as calm as they seem based on current prices, as we did have refined products trading over nearly a nickel range overnight. The last week of July will bring a key test for the energy bulls, that have already passed two big tests so far in July. If prices do not break to fresh highs before month end, there will be an argument that the weekly charts are forming a rounding top pattern that could end up meaning sharply lower prices as we get closer to fall.
Ethanol prices appear to be on the verge of a technical breakdown, along with corn futures which traded below their 200 day moving average for the first time in nearly a year on Friday. That selling in grains didn’t prevent a jump of more than 3 cents in RIN values Friday, although some stronger offers did appear in the afternoon, which could create some downward pressure to start the week, especially with futures flashing red.
Hedge funds look like they may have thrown in the towel after last Monday’s brutal sell-off (and likely missing out on the subsequent rally) with managed money net length seeing sharp reductions across the energy board last week. WTI and RBOB net length plunged to the lowest levels since last October as long positions were cut, and new short positions were added. Those new shorts may help explain the strong rallies in WTI and RBOB Wednesday and Thursday if those new speculative shorts were getting squeezed out. Brent and Gasoil contracts also saw large declines in the large speculator books, while ULSD was the only contract to see a single digit percentage drop on the week, which could end up being a sign of hedge funds struggling to figure this market out as there’s a case that the ULSD contract looks the weakest currently on the charts.
The EIA last week took a closer look at the spike in renewable diesel production expected over the next 3 years, which is forecast to bring US capacity from less than 1 billion gallons/year currently, to nearly 5 billion gallons by 2024. The report notes that even with this surge in production, RD will only account for roughly 20% of West Coast diesel refining capacity, and 4% of USGC capacity after these upgrades are made. The report also highlights the challenges the consequences of higher feedstock and RIN prices caused by this race to take advantage of California’s credits go green.
Baker Hughes reported 7 more oil rigs were put to work last week, continuing the steady increase in drilling activity as producers enjoy the highest prices in nearly 7 years. Unlike the past month, the Permian led the increases this week, with 4 more rigs operating in the country’s largest basin.
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Energy Markets Rally Again Thursday After A Choppy Wednesday Session
Energy markets are trying to rally again Thursday after a choppy Wednesday session. RBOB gasoline futures are leading the push higher, on pace for a 3rd consecutive day of gains after finding a temporary floor Tuesday and have added 12 cents from those lows.
Equity markets are pointing sharply lower after a weak Q1 GDP estimate which seems to have contributed to a pullback in product prices over the past few minutes, but don’t be surprised if the “bad news is good news” low interest rate junkies start jumping in later on.
The DOE’s weekly report showed sluggish demand for gasoline and diesel, but inventory levels in most markets continue to follow their typical seasonal trends. Refinery runs held fairly steady last week with crude inputs down slightly but total gross throughputs up slightly as most facilities are now back online from a busy spring maintenance season and geared up for peak demand this summer.
Propane and propylene exports spiked to a record high north of 2.3 million barrels/day last week, which demonstrates both the US’s growing influence on global product markets, and the steady shift towards “other” products besides traditional gasoline and diesel in the level of importance for refiners.
The EIA acknowledged this morning that its weak diesel consumption estimates reflected the switch to Renewable Diesel on the West Coast, although they did not provide any timeline for when that data will be included in the weekly survey. The agency acknowledged that more than 4% of the total US consumption is now a combination of RD and Biodiesel, and that number is expected to continue to grow this year. This morning’s note also suggested that weak manufacturing activity was to blame for the sluggish diesel demand across the US, while other reports suggest the freight recession continued through Q1 of this year, which is also contributing to the big shift from tight diesel markets to oversupplied in several regions.
Valero kicked off the Q1 earnings releases for refiners with solid net income of $1.2 billion that’s a far cry from the spectacular earnings north of $3 billion in the first quarter of 2023. The refining sector made $1.7 billion, down from $4.1 billion last year. That is a pattern that should be expected from other refiners as well as the industry returns to a more normal market after 2 unbelievable years. You wouldn’t guess it by looking at stock prices for refiners though, as they continue to trade near record highs despite the more modest earnings.
Another pattern we’re likely to see continue with other refiners is that Renewable earnings were down, despite a big increase in production as lower subsidies like RINs and LCFS credit values sting producers that rely on those to compete with traditional products. Valero’s SAF conversion project at its Diamond Green joint venture is progressing ahead of schedule and will give the company optionality to flip between RD and SAF depending on how the economics of those two products shakes out this year. Valero also shows part of why refiners continue to disappear in California, with operating expenses for its West Coast segment nearly 2X that of the other regions it operates in.
Week 16 - US DOE Inventory Recap
Energy Markets Trading Quietly In The Red As Ethanol Prices Rally To Five-Month High
Energy markets are trading quietly in the red to start Wednesday’s session after a healthy bounce Tuesday afternoon suggested the Israel-Iran-linked liquidation had finally run its course.
There are reports of more Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy assets overnight, but the sources are sketchy so far, and the market doesn’t seem to be reacting as if this is legitimate news.
Ethanol prices have rallied to a 5-month high this week as corn and other grain prices have rallied after the latest crop progress update highlighted risks to farmers this year, lower grain export expectations from Ukraine, and the approval of E15 blends this summer despite the fact it pollutes more. The rally in grain and renewables prices has also helped RIN values find a bid after it looked like they were about to test their 4-year lows last week.
The API reported small changes in refined product inventories last week, with gasoline stocks down about 600,000, while distillates were up 724,000. Crude oil inventories increased by 3.2 million barrels according to the industry-group estimates. The DOE’s weekly report is due out at its normal time this morning.
Total reported another upset at its Port Arthur refinery that’s been a frequent flier on the TCEQ alerts since the January deep freeze knocked it offline and damaged multiple operating units. This latest upset seems minor as the un-named unit impacted was returned to normal operations in under an hour. Gulf Coast basis markets have shrugged off most reports of refinery upsets this year as the region remains well supplied, and it’s unlikely we’ll see any impact from this news.
California conversely reacted in a big way to reports of an upset at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery outside of LA, with CARBOB basis values jumping by more than a dime. Energy News Today continued to show its value by reporting the upset before the flaring notice was even reported to area regulators, proving once again it’s ahead of the curve on refinery-related events. Another industry news outlet meanwhile struggled just to remember where the country’s largest diesel seller is located.
Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk