May WTI crude oil (CLK24) today is down -0.57 (-0.70%), and May RBOB gasoline (RBK24) closed down -1.70 (-0.63%).
Crude oil and gasoline prices are moderately lower as a stronger dollar weighs on energy prices. Also, technical selling is weighing on crude as prices neared overbought levels after climbing to a 4-1/2 month high on Tuesday. Losses in crude are limited as today's rally in the S&P 500 to a new record high shows optimism in the economic outlook that is bullish for energy demand.
Today's US economic news was stronger than expected, supporting energy demand and crude prices. Weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell -2,000 to 210,000, showing a stronger labor market than expectations of an increase to 213,000. Also, the Mar S&P U.S. manufacturing PMI unexpectedly rose +0.3 to a 1-3/4 year high of 52.5, stronger than expectations of a decline to 51.8. In addition, Feb existing home sales unexpectedly rose +9.5% m/m to a 1-year high of 4.38 million, stronger than expectations for a decline to 3.95 million.
Crude has support from the recent Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries that damaged several Russian oil processing facilities, limiting Russian fuel export prospects. JPMorgan Chase said it sees 900,000 bpd of Russian refinery capacity that could be offline "for several weeks if not months" from the attacks, adding $4 a barrel of risk premium to oil prices.
The recent strength of Chinese crude oil demand is bullish for prices. Monday's government data showed that China processed a record 118.76 MMT of crude in January and February, up +3% from the same time last year. Also, Chinese fuel demand jumped, with expressway passenger volumes 54% higher than 2019 levels, while airlines saw 19% more people than the pre-pandemic peak.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) last Thursday forecasted that the global oil markets will be in a deficit through the end of 2024 if OPEC+ maintains its current production cuts, although the balance would turn into a surplus if OPEC+ starts pumping more oil. OPEC+ will meet on June 1 to decide on production levels for the second half of 2024. The IEA also raised its forecast for global crude oil demand growth in 2024 by 110,000 bpd to 1.3 million bpd due to a stronger US economic outlook and the increased fuel needed for ships to take longer routes to avoid Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
OPEC+ announced on March 3 that it would extend its current crude production cuts of about 2 million bpd until the end of June. The group said its crude production cuts will be "returned gradually subject to market conditions" after the second quarter. However, OPEC Feb crude production rose +110,000 bpd to 26.680 million bpd, a bearish factor for oil prices as Iraq and UAE continue to pump above their production quotas.
Also, Vortexa said on March 4 that OPEC+ compliance with crude production cuts is still "questionable." Vortexa said that Russian oil exports were about 500,000 bpd above the OPEC+ commitments, and there are "little indications that Russia is actively cutting either crude production or exports." Bloomberg reported last Tuesday that Russia's seaborne crude oil exports in the week ended March 10 rose +590,000 bpd and that Russia's flows were 420,000 bpd above Russia's pledge.
Crude prices have underlying support from the Israel-Hamas war and concern that all-out war might spread to Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire almost daily since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7. Also, the US and UK have engaged in airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels have forced shippers to divert shipments around the southern tip of Africa instead of going through the Red Sea, disrupting global crude oil supplies.
A decline in crude in floating storage is bullish for prices. Monday's weekly data from Vortexa showed that the amount of crude oil held worldwide on tankers that have been stationary for at least a week fell -9.9% w/w to 69.77 million bbl as of March 15.
Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of March 15 were -2.8% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -2.4% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -5.0% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending March 15 was unchanged w/w at 13.1 million bpd, below the recent record high of 13.3 million bpd.
Baker Hughes reported last Friday that active US oil rigs in the week ended March 15 rose by +6 rigs to a 6-month high of 510 rigs, moderately above the 2-year low of 494 rigs posted on November 10. The number of US oil rigs has fallen over the past year from the 3-3/4 year high of 627 rigs posted in December 2022.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
