Market Commentary
HSB expects oil surplus in 2025, 2026
March 19, 2025
The API called crude stocks up 4.59 million barrels, gasoline stocks were down 1.71 million barrels, and distillates were down 2.15 million barrels. HSB expects the oil markets to be in surplus in 2025 and 2026 due to strong supply and sluggish demand growth. The bank said it expects a […]
US renews missile strikes against Houthi rebels
March 18, 2025
Crude oil prices traded higher yesterday on the news over the weekend that the US launched missile strikes against Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which is raising the possibility of oil supply disruptions in the Middle East. Also supportive of prices was optimism of additional stimulus in China after […]
US renews attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen
March 17, 2025
Energy prices are up to start out this week. Over the weekend the US attacked Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US said it will keep attacking Houthis until they are no longer a threat to shipping in Yemen. The US’s actions appear to be to protect civilians and military vessels […]
IEA forecasts weaker demand, crude surplus in 2025
March 14, 2025
The IEA see a crude oil surplus in 2025 as demand is seen as disappointing. The IEA trimmed its demand growth forecast by 70,000 bpd. It sees a surplus of 600,000 bpd in crude supply over demand. It says the latest sanctions on Russia and Iran seem to have had […]
Tariff uncertainty is everywhere
March 12, 2025
The API reports crude oil stocks up 4.2, gasoline stocks were down 4.6, and distillates were up 420,000. The average estimates for today’s DOE inventory report from the Bloomberg survey are crude stocks up 2.2186, gasoline stocks down 1.585, and distillates down 279,000. Tariff uncertainty is everywhere and hard to […]
Stock market sinks as economic concerns build
March 11, 2025
Energy markets started out higher on the day yesterday but sold off in the afternoon as the equities markets turned lower and sold off as the concerns about the economy come to light. Traders are trying to price in the increased OPEC+ crude production, but this is a struggle as […]
Energy secretary says it will take years to fill the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve
March 10, 2025
The Baker Hughes Rig Count called oil rigs unchanged keeping the total at 486 and last year there were 504 oil rigs in operation. Crude oil is slightly higher this morning after posting the seventh weekly loss in a row on Friday. Crude fell its sharpest amount last week since […]
Market reacts to tariff whiplash
March 7, 2025
Tariffs on USMCA-compliant goods have been delayed on Mexico until April and then later in the trading day (after the close) US tariffs on some Canadian imports were also delayed until April, but this did not include crude oil. The president of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, Scott Stauth, said Canada […]
Crude oil prices hit lowest level since May 2023
March 6, 2025
The DOE inventory report had crude oil supplies up 3.61 million barrels, gasoline supplies were down 1.43 million barrels, and distillates were down 1.32 million barrels. Propane supplies were down 2.892 million barrels to a total of 48.654 million barrels and the five-year average is 47.3 so we are just […]
US consumer confidence continues to fall as tariffs take effect
March 5, 2025
The average estimates for today’s DOE inventory update from the Bloomberg survey are for crude oils stocks to be up 192,000 barrels, gasoline down 175,000 barrels, and distillates up 1.078 million barrels. The average estimate for today’s propane update is to see propane inventories fall by 2.44 million barrels. The […]
OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production
March 4, 2025
The big news is that OPEC+ will go ahead with April oil output increases. They also said they would proceed with output hikes beyond April, but they did mention the disclaimer that they could pause or reverse the decision based on market conditions. OPEC+ will increase barrels back into the […]
Uncertainty permeates after tense White House meeting
March 3, 2025
Energy prices closed down on Friday and down on the month. Prices fell to the low on Friday afternoon after a tense meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Ukraine President Zelensky. The mineral rights deal expected to be executed between Ukraine and the US did not happen on […]