January WTI crude oil (CLF25) Thursday closed down -0.24 (-0.35%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF25) closed down -0.0066 (-0.34%).
Crude oil and gasoline prices posted moderate losses on Thursday. Crude prices fell as Thursday's weaker-than-expected global economic news signals stagnant fuel demand. A weaker dollar Thursday limited losses in crude. Also, crude found support after OPEC+ said it would delay the revival of its oil production by three months, the third time it has deferred the move.
Crude found support Thursday after OPEC+ pushed back a planned hike of its crude production by +180,000 bpd from January to April and said it would unwind its crude output cuts at a slower pace than planned. Also, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said it will delay the planned 300,000 bpd increase in its crude production target from January to April. OPEC+ had previously agreed to restore 2.2 million bpd of output in monthly installments between January and late 2025. However, that is now pushed back until September 2026. OPEC Nov crude production rose +120,000 bpd to 27.02 million bpd.
Thursday's global economic news was weaker than expected and bearish for crude prices. US weekly initial unemployment claims rose +9,000 to a 6-week high of 224,000, showing a weaker labor market than expectations of 215,000. Also, Eurozone Oct retail sales fell -0.5% m/m, weaker than expectations of -0.3% m/m and the biggest decline in 4 months. In addition, the German Nov S&P construction PMI fell -2.2 to 38.0, the steepest pace of contraction in 7 months.
A decline in crude oil held worldwide on tankers is bullish for oil prices. Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least seven days fell by -2.5% w/w to 68.74 million bbl in the week ended November 29.
Escalation of the Ukraine-Russian war is supportive of crude prices. Russia launched a new hypersonic missile into the city of Dnipro late last month, following Ukraine's expanded use of Western-provided long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, and Russian President Putin warned that Russia could strike “decision-making centers” in Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Last week, Putin also approved an updated nuclear doctrine that expands the conditions for Russia to use atomic weapons, including in response to a conventional attack on its soil.
Crude demand in China has weakened and is a bearish factor for oil prices. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, China's Oct apparent oil demand fell -5.4% y/y to 14.07 million bpd, and Jan-Oct apparent oil demand was down -4.03% y/y to 14.00 million bpd. China is the world's second-largest crude consumer.
An increase in Russian crude exports is bearish for crude. Weekly vessel-tracking data from Bloomberg showed Russian crude exports rose by +570,000 bpd to 3.36 million bpd in the week to December 1.
Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of November 29 were -5.0% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -4.3% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -4.8% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending November 29 rose +0.1% w/w to a record 13.513 million bpd.
Baker Hughes reported last Wednesday that active US oil rigs in the week ending November 29 fell -2 rigs and matched the 2-3/4 year low of 477 rigs first posted in the week ending July 19. The number of US oil rigs has fallen over the past two years from the 4-1/2 year high of 627 rigs posted in December 2022.
