Energy Markets Survive Heavy Wave Of Selling
The back and forth continues for energy markets after surviving another heavy wave of selling Wednesday, as traders react to the weekly inventory reports and a slew of minor supply disruptions across the midcontinent due to storms.
The API reported a draw in crude oil stocks of 5.3 million barrels, and a drop in distillates of 2.1 million barrels, while gasoline stocks increased by 2.7 million barrels. The overnight price reaction seems to match that report with WTI trying to hold onto gains, while RBOB futures try to drag the complex lower. The DOE/EIA’s report is due out at 10am central today.
More pipeline, refinery and terminal issues are popping up around the US due to the rash of severe storms that continue to sweep across the country. Wednesday the Explorer pipeline reported plans to shut part of its line near St. Louis due to flooding, while numerous terminals in the Midwest were said to be either running out of products, or forced to close directly or indirectly due to the storms. In some cases, power losses are to blame, while in others there are suggestions that the disruptions on crude pipelines and takeaway capacity from barges is forcing refineries from IL to LA to cut runs.
Interesting timing: A new note from the EIA this morning details the race to build new oil pipeline capacity in the Gulf Coast and Midwestern regions.
Interest rates took credit for much of the pessimism Thursday that had both equity and energy prices selling off sharply early in the day. The 10 year treasury yield dropped to its lowest level in nearly 2 years, while the treasury yield curves continued to get steeper. Bulls will shrug off the yield curve warning – suggesting that metric has predicted 7 of the last 3 recessions – while bears see this as a clear sign that investors are taking money off the table and buying up treasuries in a flight to safety.
Meanwhile, the US economy continues to keep chugging along with the 2nd look at Q1 GDP readings holding steady north of 3% this morning, which seems to have given both equities and energy futures a small boost off their overnight lows.
Reports that the US was blaming Iranian mines for the sabotage on 4 tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier in May may have stirred markets up briefly during Wednesday’s afternoon bounce, but it appears the market is largely shrugging off that news as both sides seem to have limited their saber rattling in recent days.
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Energy Prices Up Over 2% Across The Board This Morning
Refined product futures traded in an 8-10 cent range yesterday with prompt heating oil settling up ~6 cents and RBOB ending up about flat. Oil prices clawed back some of the losses taken in the first two full trading days of the week, putting the price per barrel for US crude back over the $70 mark. Prices are up just over 2% across the board this morning, signifying confidence after the Senate passed the bipartisan debt ceiling bill last night.
The EIA reported crude oil inventories up 4.5 million barrels last week, aided by above-average imports, weakened demand, and a sizeable increase to their adjustment factor. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve continues to release weekly through June and the 355 million barrels remaining in the SPR is now at a low not seen since September 1983. Exports increased again on the week and continue to run well above last year’s record-setting levels through the front half of the year. Refinery runs and utilization rates have increased to their highest points this year, both sitting just above year-ago rates.
Diesel stocks continue to hover around the low end of the 5-year range set in 2022, reporting a build of about half of what yesterday’s API data showed. Most PADDs saw modest increases last week but all are sitting far below average levels. Distillate imports show 3 weeks of growth trending along the seasonal average line, while 3.7 million barrels leaving the US last week made it the largest increase in exports for the year. Gasoline inventories reported a small decline on the week, also being affected by the largest jump in exports this year, leaving it under the 5-year range for the 11th consecutive week. Demand for both products dwindled last week; however, gas is still comfortably above average despite the drop.
The sentiment surrounding OPEC+’s upcoming meeting is they’re not likely to extend oil supply cuts, despite prices falling early in the week. OPEC+ is responsible for a significant portion of global crude oil production and its policy decisions can have a major impact on prices. Some members of OPEC+ have voluntarily cut production since April due to a waning economic outlook, but the group is not expected to take further action next week.
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Prices Are Mixed This Morning As The Potential Halt In U.S. Interest Rate Hikes
Bearish headlines pushed refined products and crude futures down again yesterday. Prompt RBOB closed the month at $2.5599 and HO at $2.2596 with WTI dropping another $1.37 to $68.09 and Brent losing 88 cents. Prices are mixed this morning as the potential halt in U.S. interest rate hikes and the House passing of the US debt ceiling bill balanced the impact of rising inventories and mixed demand signals from China.
The American Petroleum Institute reported crude builds of 5.2 million barrels countering expectations of a draw. Likewise, refined product inventories missed expectations and were also reported to be up last week with gasoline adding 1.891 million barrels and diesel stocks rising 1.849 million barrels. The market briefly attempted a push higher but ultimately settled with losses following the reported supply increases implying weaker than anticipated demand. The EIA will publish its report at 10am this morning.
LyondellBasell announced plans yesterday to delay closing of their Houston refinery, originally scheduled to shut operations by the end of this year, through Q1 2025. The company “remains committed to ceasing operation of its oil refining business” but the 289,000 b/d facility remaining online longer than expected will likely have market watchers adjusting this capacity back into their balance estimates.
Side note: there is still an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Two oil refineries located east of Russia's major oil export terminals were targeted by drone attacks. The Afipsky refinery’s 37,000 b/d crude distillation unit was struck yesterday, igniting a massive fire that was later extinguished while the other facility avoided any damage. The attacks are part of a series of intensified drone strikes on Russian oil pipelines. Refineries in Russia have been frequently targeted by drones since the start of the military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.