Crude Oil Prices Jump on Uncertainty Over Middle East Supplies

September WTI crude oil (CLU26) is up +1.83 (+2.43%) today, and September RBOB gasoline (RBU26) is up +0.0777 (+2.74%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices are climbing today on uncertainty regarding a proposed plan by Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.  Also, a reported missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker by Houthi rebels is giving crude oil prices a boost. 

Crude prices are rising today on concerns about oil supplies from the Middle East after Yemen's Houthi rebels said they targeted a Saudi oil tanker with a ballistic missile today in the Gulf of Aden.  The Houthis said they will escalate attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the northern Red Sea to prevent them from transiting the area. 

The markets are waiting for news of an Iran-Oman agreement to partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A joint statement from the two countries is under review, and the route would remain active for two to four months, though the agreement does not mean a full reopening, according to Iranian officials.  Iran said that a normalization of the strait will depend on the US lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.

Crude prices also have support as Ukraine intensifies drone attacks on Russian oil infrastructure.  Ukraine has attacked Russian refineries, oil tankers, and major pipeline infrastructure at least 30 times in July, the second highest monthly number of attacks since the war began in 2022.  According to EA Analytics, Russian crude-processing rates will average 3.51 million bpd in July, the lowest in 24 years, amid damage to Russian energy infrastructure caused by drone and missile attacks from Ukraine.  As of the end of June, around 90% of Russian regions have imposed some form of fuel rationing or reported supply issues, as refining capacity has plunged following damage to facilities.  The strikes have deepened a nationwide gasoline shortage, with several major refineries shut down and the government banning almost all gasoline, jet fuel and diesel exports.  Russia is the world's number two diesel exporter, after the US, according to Vortexa. 

Robust crude supplies in China may reduce Chinese crude purchases in the near term, a bearish factor for oil prices.  China's crude inventories remain abundant, with supplies falling by only 54 million bbl since early May to around 1.2 billion bbl, according to data from Kpler.

Stronger Russian crude exports are also adding to global oil supplies, which is bearish for prices. Data compiled by Bloomberg show the four-week average of Russian crude exports remains above 4 million bpd in the period to July 26 and rose to 4.13 million bpd through June 28, the highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.  Russia may be boosting its crude exports as the country's refining capacity has plunged due to damage at its refining facilities from Ukraine's drone and missile attacks.

As a bearish factor for crude, OPEC delegates on Sunday approved their final increase of +188,000 bpd in crude production for September.  The group has now restored all of the 1.65 million bpd supply cutback it made back in 2023 and said it plans to hold output steady for the rest of the year after the September hike.  The production increases by OPEC+ might prove difficult to achieve amid renewed US-Iran military attacks in the region.  OPEC's July crude production rose by +1.16 million bpd to 19.44 million bpd. 

Vortexa reported on Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least 7 days rose +4.6% w/w to 112164 million bbl in the week ended July 31.

Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of July 31 were -6.2% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -6.2% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -11.7% below the 5-year seasonal average.  US crude oil production in the week ending July 31 rose +0.1% w/w at 13.804 million bpd, just below the record high of 13.862 million bpd posted in the week of November 7.

Baker Hughes reported last Friday that the number of active US oil rigs in the week ended July 31 rose by +1 to 451 rigs, just below the 1.25-year high of 452 rigs posted in the week ended July 17.