Market Commentary

China’s refineries processed 488 million tonnes of crude and other feedstocks in the first eight months of the year, an increase of 16 million tonnes (+3%) compared with the same period in 2023, but still below the volume two years ago, as the country‘s oil consumption flattens out. Crude oil […]

Crude oil was up in yesterday’s trading by 1% or more mainly due to US and China trade war concerns that got stirred up over the weekend. US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said that the meeting between US and Chinese leaders remains on track to be held in south Korea […]

After Friday’s big selloff, the markets opened higher on Sunday night. The market is also trying to figure out what the latest is with Trump threatening 100% tariffs on China. This news from China is also supporting prices in the near term and will be something traders will keep an […]

Reports surfaced that Saudi Arabia wanted to raise oil output by as much as 500,000 barrels per day (bpd), but other OPEC+ members opted to maintain lower production targets. Adding downward pressure on prices is the fact that refineries are entering their maintenance season in the fourth quarter, coinciding with […]

OPEC+ decided to increase production in November by 137,000 bpd, the same as they did for this month. The market was looking for something more liked 500,000 bpd and that had helped the market sell off last week but a less than expected increase has crude up this morning. The […]

An expected production increase from OPEC+ at this weekend’s meeting, combined with news of additional barrels being exported from Kurdistan to Turkey, has the energy market moving lower. The move downward is coming despite OPEC+ currently being roughly 500,000 barrels per day under its allowed quotas, which is supportive to […]

Crude oil prices rose on Friday with the focus on Ukraine drone attacks on Russian refineries and energy infrastructure which appears to be causing some fuels shortages in Russia. Also offering support is the US’s efforts get NATO allies to decrease their purchases of Russian oil and natural gas. Energy […]

Crude oil and fuel prices closed mixed in yesterday’s trading. The Bureau of Economist Analysis reported that the final estimate for Q2 2025 GDP came in at 3.8%, which was much higher than the 3.3% expected and above the expected range (3.3%,3.5%). The BEA reported that consumer spending came in […]

The inventory report for propane showed supplies went up 987,000 barrels less than expected and total stocks are now at 99.918 million barrels. Last year the inventory was at 97.560 and the 5-year average was 90.712. The Midwest supplies were up 749,000 barrels, putting total Midwest stocks at 26.804 and […]

Kyiv’s general staff said Ukraine’s military struck two Russian oil distribution facilities in the Bryansk and Samara regions overnight. In Samara, the military hit a line production station that mixes Russian oil for its flagship Urals oil grade for export. In Bryansk, it hit a line production station of a […]

Citi analysts forecast Brent crude oil price would fall to $60 per barrel by year-end and average $62 per barrel between the second and fourth quarters of 2026, citing OPEC+ production increases and China’s stockpiling. The bank revised its global liquids balance outlook after OPEC+ announced plans to unwind an […]

The energy markets continue to keep a watch on a list of concerns from the ongoing conflicts around the globe to a host of economic concerns. From John Kemp: The market continues to digest geopolitical issues from last week. Over the weekend, Poland deployed fighter jets in response to Russia’s […]