Gasoline Futures Leading Energy Complex Higher

Market TalkThursday, Mar 7 2019
Gasoline Futures Leading Energy Complex Higher

RBOB gasoline futures are leading the energy complex higher once again to start Thursday’s session, reaching a fresh 4 month high and punching through chart resistance at the 200 day moving average overnight. A large draw in gasoline inventories seems to have helped the annual spring gasoline rally with its latest push higher even though oil and distillate prices are lagging.

If RBOB futures can hold above the 200 day moving average (known historically as a level that large funds have used as an indicator of strength vs weakness) there is not much on the charts to prevent a run at the $2 mark over the coming weeks. WTI and ULSD futures may continue to act as a drag on the gasoline rally however if they can’t find enough momentum to break out of their sideways range.

According to the DOE, US refinery runs increased for a 2nd straight week, suggesting that we have made the turn for spring maintenance, and should see run rates increase over the next 6 weeks. One potential flaw with that typical-seasonal pattern: More unplanned refinery downtime. After Valero reported its McKee FCC went down again last week (for the 2nd time this year) multiple explosions were reported at HollyFrontier’s plant in El Dorado KS, and the Richmond CA refinery was also reported to have more problems.

Why are gasoline prices up a nickel since the DOE reported a 12% increase in PADD 1 refining rates last week? Gasoline stocks along the East Coast dropped by more than 3 million barrels, and even with the increase (from an 8 year low last week) refinery runs are still below the bottom end of their seasonal range.

Why are crude oil prices rallying even though oil inventories built by 7 million barrels last week? Net imports were up more than 1 million barrels/day on the week, accounting for an 11 million barrels increase based on trade flows, meaning the headline value is not likely reflective of lower demand.

The EPA reported that model year 2017 vehicles reached a record high fuel economy, and a record low for GHG emissions in their latest automotive trends update. As the chart below shows, manufacturers are using a wide range of technologies from turbo-charged engines (which has been driving up demand for premium gasoline) to more advanced transmissions and hybrid engines to achieve these targets.

Today’s head scratcher: With the world racing to produce more diesel ahead of expected shortages when the IMO 2020 rules take effect, why would Russia’s Rosneft delay upgrading projects at 5 of its refineries that would allow for increased diesel production? Are they tight on funds or betting on non-compliance to manage through the new rules?

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Market TalkThursday, Mar 28 2024

Energy Markets Are Ticking Modestly Higher Heading Into The Easter Weekend With Crude Oil Prices Leading The Way Up About $1.25/Barrel Early Thursday Morning

Energy markets are ticking modestly higher heading into the Easter Weekend with crude oil prices leading the way up about $1.25/barrel early Thursday morning, while gasoline prices are up around 2.5 cents and ULSD futures are about a penny.

Today is the last trading day for April HO and RBOB futures, an unusually early expiration due to the month ending on a holiday weekend. None of the pricing agencies will be active tomorrow since the NYMEX and ICE contracts are completely shut, so most rack prices published tonight will carry through Monday.

Gasoline inventories broke from tradition and snapped a 7 week decline as Gulf Coast supplies increased, more than offsetting the declines in PADDs 1, 2 and 5. With gulf coast refiners returning from maintenance and cranking out summer grade gasoline, the race is now officially on to move their excess through the rest of the country before the terminal and retail deadlines in the next two months. While PADD 3 run rates recover, PADD 2 is expected to see rates decline in the coming weeks with 2 Chicago-area refineries scheduled for planned maintenance, just a couple of weeks after BP returned from 7 weeks of unplanned repairs.

Although terminal supplies appear to be ample around the Baltimore area, we have seen linespace values for shipping gasoline on Colonial tick higher in the wake of the tragic bridge collapse as some traders seem to be making a small bet that the lack of supplemental barge resupply may keep inventories tight until the barge traffic can move once again. The only notable threat to refined product supplies is from ethanol barge traffic which will need to be replaced by truck and rail options, but so far that doesn’t seem to be impacting availability at the rack. Colonial did announce that they would delay the closure of its underutilized Baltimore north line segment that was scheduled for April 1 to May 1 out of an “abundance of caution”.

Ethanol inventories reached a 1-year high last week as output continues to hold above the seasonal range as ethanol distillers seem to be betting that expanded use of E15 blends will be enough to offset sluggish gasoline demand. A Bloomberg article this morning also highlights why soybeans are beginning to displace corn in the subsidized food to fuel race.

Flint Hills reported a Tuesday fire at its Corpus Christi West facility Wednesday, although it’s unclear if that event will have a material impact on output after an FCC unit was “stabilized” during the fire. While that facility isn’t connected to Colonial, and thus doesn’t tend to have an impact on USGC spot pricing, it is a key supplier to the San Antonio, Austin and DFW markets, so any downtime may be felt at those racks.

Meanwhile, P66 reported ongoing flaring at its Borger TX refinery due to an unknown cause. That facility narrowly avoided the worst wildfires in state history a few weeks ago but is one of the frequent fliers on the TCEQ program with upsets fairly common in recent years.

Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk, including all charts from the Weekly DOE Report.

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Market TalkWednesday, Mar 27 2024

Most Energy Contracts Are Ticking Lower For A 2nd Day After A Trickle Of Selling Picked Up Steam Tuesday

Most energy contracts are ticking lower for a 2nd day after a trickle of selling picked up steam Tuesday. ULSD futures are down a dime from Monday’s highs and RBOB futures are down 7 cents.

Diesel prices continue to look like the weak link in the energy chain, with futures coming within 1 point of their March lows overnight, setting up a test of the December lows around $2.48 if that resistance breaks down. Despite yesterday’s slide, RBOB futures still look bullish on the weekly charts, with a run towards the $3 mark still looking like a strong possibility in the next month or so.

The API reported crude stocks increased by more than 9 million barrels last week, while distillates were up 531,000 and gasoline stocks continued their seasonal decline falling by 4.4 million barrels. The DOE’s weekly report is due out at its normal time this morning.

RIN values have recovered to their highest levels in 2 months around $.59/RIN for D4 and D6 RINs, even though the recovery rally in corn and soybean prices that had helped lift prices off of the 4 year lows set in February has stalled out. Expectations for more biofuel production to be shut in due to weak economics with lower subsidy values seems to be encouraging the tick higher in recent weeks, although prices are still about $1/RIN lower than this time last year.

Reminder that Friday is one of only 3 annual holidays in which the Nymex is completely shut, so no prices will be published, but it’s not a federal holiday in the US so banks will be open.

Click here to download a PDF of today's TACenergy Market Talk.