February WTI crude oil (CLG24) on Wednesday closed up +0.28 (+0.38%), and Feb RBOB gasoline (RBG24) closed up +0.06 (+0.03%).
Crude oil and gasoline prices on Wednesday posted modest gains, with crude climbing to a 2-1/2 week high. Concerns about disruptions to Middle East crude supplies are boosting oil prices as more oil shippers avoid the Red Sea and ship crude around the southern tip of Africa due to the attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi militants. Crude prices fell back from their best levels on a bearish EIA report that showed an unexpected increase in weekly U.S. oil supplies and record U.S. crude production.
Geopolitical risks are bullish for crude prices after BP joined Equinor and Euronav in halting crude oil shipments on tankers through the Red Sea because of increasingly frequent attacks on ships in the region. The attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East are forcing shippers to divert shipments around the southern tip of Africa instead of going through the Red Sea, disrupting crude oil supplies. At least twenty merchant ships have been attacked or approached around Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea since Israel's war with Hamas broke out in October.
Wednesday's better-than-expected global economic news supports energy demand and crude prices. U.S. Nov existing home sales unexpectedly rose +0.8% m/m to 3.82 million, stronger than expectations of a decline to 3.78 million. Also, the Conference Board U.S. Dec consumer confidence index rose +9.7 to a 5-month high of 110.7, stronger than expectations of 104.5. In addition, the Eurozone Dec consumer confidence index rose +1.8 to a 5-month high of -15.1, stronger than expectations of -16.3.
A supportive factor for crude was last Monday's projection from the American Automobile Association (AAA) that a record 7.5 million people are expected to fly from Dec 23 to Jan 2, the most since the AAA began tracking the data in 2000.
An increase in Russian crude oil exports is bearish for crude oil prices. Tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg shows refined fuel shipments from Russia climbed to 3.2 million bpd in the four weeks to Dec 10, up +114,000 bpd from the prior week and the highest five months.
On Nov 30, OPEC+ agreed to cut crude production by -1.0 million bpd through June 2024. However, crude prices sold off on the news since no details were provided on how the cuts would be distributed among members nor how Russia's -300,000 bpd export cut would factor into the new totals. Delegates said the final details of the new accord, including national production levels, would be announced individually by each country rather than in the customary OPEC+ communique. The market was disappointed that the extra cuts in OPEC crude output will be announced by each individual country, which suggests the reductions may only be voluntary.
Saudi Arabia said on Nov 30 that it would maintain its unilateral crude production cut of 1.0 million bpd through Q1-2024. The move would maintain Saudi Arabia's crude output at about 9 million bpd, the lowest level in three years. Russia also said it will deepen its voluntary oil export cuts by 200,000 bpd to 500,000 bpd in Q1 of 2024. OPEC Nov crude production fell -140,000 bpd to 28.050 million bpd.
The rift between Angola and other OPEC+ members remains and is a bearish factor that signals more infighting among members. Angola OPEC governor Pedro said on Nov 30 that his country rejects OPEC's quota and "Angola will produce above the quota determined by OPEC." Angola is Africa's second-largest crude producer, and OPEC governor Pedro said his country will pump 1.18 million bpd in January, above the 1.11 million quota set out by OPEC.
Weak demand for crude in China, the world's biggest crude importer, is bearish for prices. China's crude imports were 42.45 MMT, down -13% m/m from Oct and a 7-month low.
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 -13% w/w to 73.32 million bbl as of Dec 15.
Wednesday's weekly EIA crude report was bearish for crude prices. EIA crude inventories unexpectedly rose by +2.91 million bbl versus expectations of a -2.3 million bbl draw. Also, EIA gasoline stockpiles rose +2.91 million bbl, more than expectations of +1.35 million bbl. In addition, EIA distillate supplies rose +1.49 million bbl, above expectations of +691,000 bbl. Finally, crude supplies at Cushing, the delivery point of WTI futures, rose +1.686 million bbl to a 4-month high.
Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) U.S. crude oil inventories as of Dec 15 were -0.7% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -1.5% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -10.1% below the 5-year seasonal average. U.S. crude oil production in the week ending Dec 15 rose +1.5% w/w to a record 13.3 million bpd.
Baker Hughes reported last Friday that active U.S. oil rigs in the week ended Dec 15 fell by -2 rigs to 501 rigs, modestly above the 1-3/4 year low of 494 rigs from Nov 10. The number of U.S. oil rigs has fallen this year after moving sharply higher during 2021-22 from the 18-year pandemic low of 172 rigs posted in Aug 2020 to a 3-1/2 year high of 627 rigs 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.
