Crude Prices Undercut by Signs of Progress to End the Russian-Ukrainian War

January WTI crude oil (CLF26) on Tuesday closed down -0.89 (-1.51%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF26) closed down -0.0235 (-1.29%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices fell to 5-week lows on Tuesday, amid expectations that an end to the Russia-Ukraine war would boost global oil supplies, as restrictions on Russian energy exports are lifted. Also, weaker-than-expected US economic news on Tuesday was negative for energy demand and crude prices. Tuesday’s weaker dollar (DXY00) limited losses in crude oil.

Crude prices tumbled on Tuesday after ABC News reported that Ukraine agreed to the terms of a revised peace deal toward ending the war with Russia. However, Russia has yet to say if it accepts the agreement.

Tuesday’s weaker-than-expected US economic news was bearish for energy demand and crude prices. Sep retail sales rose +0.2% m/m, weaker than expectations of +0.4% m/m. Also, the latest weekly update from ADP showed that US private payrolls fell by an average of -13,500 per week in the four weeks ending November 8. In addition, the Conference Board’s US Nov consumer confidence index fell -6.8 to a 7-month low of 88.7, weaker than expectations of 93.3.

Oil prices are supported by news of reduced crude exports from Russia, after last Wednesday’s data from Vortexa showed Russia’s oil product shipments fell to 1.7 million bpd in the first 15 days of November, the lowest in more than 3 years. Ukraine has targeted at least 28 Russian refineries over the past three months, exacerbating a fuel crunch in Russia and limiting Russia’s crude export capabilities. Ukraine has knocked out 13% to 20% of Russia’s refining capacity by the end of October, curbing production by as much as 1.1 million bpd. New US and EU sanctions on Russian oil companies, infrastructure, and tankers have also curbed Russian oil exports.

Oil prices have underlying support from ongoing geopolitical risks related to Russia and the US military buildup for a possible attack on Venezuela, the world’s 12th-largest oil producer.

Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least 7 days rose +9.7% w/w to 114.31 million bbls in the week ended November 21, the highest level in 2.25 years.

Earlier this month, OPEC revised its Q3 global oil market estimates from a deficit to a surplus, as US production exceeded expectations and OPEC also ramped up crude output. OPEC said it now sees a 500,000 bpd surplus in global oil markets in Q3, versus last month’s estimate for a -400,000 bpd deficit. Also, the EIA raised its 2025 US crude production estimate to 13.59 million bpd from 13.53 million bpd last month.

OPEC+ at its November 2 meeting announced that members will raise production by +137,000 bpd in December but will then pause the production hikes in Q1-2026 due to the emerging global oil surplus. The IEA in mid-October forecasted a record global oil surplus of 4.0 million bpd for 2026. OPEC+ is trying to restore all of the 2.2 million bpd production cut it made in early 2024, but still has another 1.2 million bpd of production left to restore. OPEC’s October crude production rose by +50,000 bpd to 29.07 million bpd, the highest in 2.5 years.

The consensus is for Wednesday’s weekly EIA crude inventories to decline by -2.36 million bbl, and gasoline supplies to increase by +1.16 million bbl.

Last Wednesday’s EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of November 14 were -5.0% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -3.7% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -6.9% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending November 14 fell -0.2% w/w to 13.834 million bpd, falling back from the record high of 13.862 million bpd from the prior week.

Baker Hughes reported last Friday that the number of active US oil rigs in the week ending November 21 rose by +2 rigs to 419, modestly above the 4-year low of 410 rigs set on August 1. Over the past 2.5 years, the number of US oil rigs has fallen sharply from the 5.5-year high of 627 rigs reported 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. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

finance.yahoo.com
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