Crude oil trades softer ahead of storage report

Crude oil trades softer ahead of storage report

Ole Hansen

Head of Commodity Strategy

Summary:  WTI crude oil has settled into a relative tight range around $53/b ahead of today's delayed U.S. stock report. The global outlook for demand remains challenging with the weak sentiment not being helped by the recent IMF global growth downgrade and uncertainty surrounding trade negotiations between the U.S. and China


Crude oil trades softer but well above key support ahead of the holiday delayed inventory report from the Energy Information Administration at 1500 GMT. Last night the American Petroleum Institute reported a 10.5 million barrel rise in crude oil stocks. Significantly higher than the 2.5 to 3 million barrels surveys are looking for from the EIA. 

While a draw would be in line with the seasonal behavior for U.S. stocks a figure close to 10 million barrels would be the biggest increase since February and it would put the last five weeks increase close to 20 million barrels. A combination of a continued slowdown in refinery demand and lower exports due to the recent surge in tanker rates could be the explanation behind a bigger-than-expected inventory rise. 

Gasoline and distillate stocks are both expected to continue their seasonally decline. The latter could hit a five-year seasonal low should the report confirm the 2.5 million barrel drop. 

WTI crude oil has settled into a relative tight range around $53/b with key support below $51/b and resistance towards $55/b. The global outlook for demand remains challenging with the current weak sentiment not being helped by a recent IMF global growth downgrade and uncertainty surrounding trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. The prompt spread in WTI has sunk to the weakest since January on a combination of rising U.S. production and exporters temporarily being priced out of the market.

U.S. sanctions against China's COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co. prompted a recent spike in the cost of chartering Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC). Before eventually easing this week the cost of transporting crude oil from the US Golf coast to refineries in the far east is likely to have triggered a slowdown in exports, hence the expected rise in crude stocks.

Source: Saxo Bank

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Trader Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Quarterly Outlook

    China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Trader Strategy

  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...


Business Hills Park – Building 4,
4th Floor, office 401, Dubai Hills Estate, P.O. Box 33641, Dubai, UAE

Contact Saxo

Select region

UAE
UAE

All trading and investing comes with risk, including but not limited to the potential to lose your entire invested amount.

Information on our international website (as selected from the globe drop-down) can be accessed worldwide and relates to Saxo Bank A/S as the parent company of the Saxo Bank Group. Any mention of the Saxo Bank Group refers to the overall organisation, including subsidiaries and branches under Saxo Bank A/S. Client agreements are made with the relevant Saxo entity based on your country of residence and are governed by the applicable laws of that entity's jurisdiction.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.