Summary of Weekly Petroleum Data for the week ending August 2, 2019
U.S. crude oil refinery inputs averaged 17.8 million barrels per day during the week ending August 2, 2019, which was 786,000 barrels per day more than the previous week’s average. Refineries operated at 96.4% of their operable capacity last week.
> Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.4 million barrels per day.
> Distillate fuel production increased last week, averaging 5.3 million barrels per day.
U.S. crude oil imports averaged 7.1 million barrels per day last week, up by 485,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.9 million barrels per day, 14.9% less than the same four-week period last year. Total motor gasoline imports (including both finished gasoline and gasoline blending components) last week averaged 1,217,000 barrels per day, and distillate fuel imports averaged 253,000 barrels per day.
> U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 2.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 438.9 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 2% above the five year average for this time of year.
> Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 4.4 million barrels last week and are about 4% above the five year average for this time of year. Finished gasoline and blending components inventories both increased last week.
> Distillate fuel inventories increased by 1.5 million barrels last week and are about 1% below the five year average for this time of year.
> Propane/propylene inventories increased by 2.9 million barrels last week and are about 8% above the five year average for this time of year.
>> Total commercial petroleum inventories increased last week by 10.4 million barrels last week.
Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 21.2 million barrels per day, up by 0.2% from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 9.5 million barrels per day, down by 1.8% from the same period last year. Distillate fuel product supplied averaged 3.9 million barrels per day over the past four weeks, down by 2.0% from the same period last year. Jet fuel product supplied was up 2.2% compared with the same four-week period last year.
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Overall a bearish report, but refinery utilization over 96% is a positive.
EIA - Weekly Petroleum Report - August 7
EIA - Weekly Petroleum Report - August 7
Dan Steffens
Energy Prospectus Group
Energy Prospectus Group
Re: EIA - Weekly Petroleum Report - August 7
Will Global Interest Rate Cuts Change The Mood Of The Oil Market?
By Phil Flynn (Aug 07, 2019 08:33AM ET) < Before the EIA report came out at 10:30AM ET.
Global interest rate cuts may once again change the mood of the oil market that has been more erratic than usual. A surprise 50 basis point cut from New Zealand shocked some, as well as cut from India’s central bank which cut rates by 35 basis to 5.40%, their fourth cut in a row and bigger that than expected and more than the 25-basis point cut predicted. Thailand also cut rates. Even hawks are becoming doves as Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard seemed to suggest that trade uncertainty should set the stage for another U.S. rate cut.
Even a bullish American Petroleum Institute (API) report initially did not show oil bulls any love until the rate-cutting craze swept the globe. Oil seems to be ignoring a dramatic tightening of U.S. oil supply that is putting supplies below average and is instead focused on an oil glut to be named later. The API reported U.S. crude supply fell by 3.43 million barrels which is the eighth crude draw in a row, the longest stretch of supply drops since January of 2018 according to Bloomberg News.
The numbers suggest decent demand for products as the API reported gasoline supply down 1.1 million barrels and distillate up 1.117 million barrels.
Yet tightening crude supply and strong U.S. demand doesn’t seem to be enough if you expect the global economy to crumble down around you. Despite bullish data, the mood was dour as headlines declared Brent crude closed in the bear market territory. Of course, the last time that happened it was a screaming buy. Will this time be the same?
The real question is whether all of the global economic stimuli by central banks can counter-act weakening economic data. History shows us that when central banks around the globe move to lower rates, it has always ultimately meant a higher price for oil eventually. Oil traders though at this point seem to doubt that, as they worry about weakening economic data. Notably weaker this morning in German manufacturing. Germany’s industrial production is falling at the fastest rate since 2009. Output fell -4.2% in April-June compared with the same period a year earlier according to Reuters.
China again set their reference rate at 6.9996. Lower than yesterday and below the 7.0 number that had the Trump Administration declare China a currency manipulator. A charge that China will now have to defend.
The Energy Information Administration also lowered its outlook for U.S. oil production and for U.S. demand. They blamed the drop in U.S. output mainly on tropical storms and failed to address the growing doubts about their U.S. shale production outlook. The EIA highlights oil markets, “Despite the potential for supply disruptions around the world, EIA forecasts that Brent crude oil spot prices will remain relatively flat through the end of 2020, as EIA sees oil markets as being in relative balance next year.” “EIA’s August Short-Term Energy Outlook estimates a decrease in U.S. crude oil production in July due to the Gulf of Mexico storm Hurricane Barry. Increasing onshore production partially offset the decrease, driven by production increases in the Permian tight oil formations.” “EIA continues to forecast record U.S. crude oil production in the August outlook, which projects U.S. production to exceed an average of 13 million barrels per day in 2020. If the forecast holds, U.S. oil production will have doubled since 2012.”
Reporting on natural gas, “EIA has decreased its 2019 forecast for Henry Hub spot prices as robust natural gas production has exceeded July’s forecast. EIA expects that the Henry Hub natural gas spot price will average $2.36 per million British thermal units in the second half of 2019. Despite the near-term reductions in prices, EIA expects natural gas prices to recover somewhat in 2020 because gas production models indicate that rising prices are required in the coming quarters to bring supply into balance with rising domestic and export demand in 2020.” “EIA estimates that the U.S. power sector set a record for natural gas consumption in response to the mid-July heatwave. Despite the record consumption, inventories ended the month 4% below the five-year, compared with 19% below the five-year average a year earlier, because of record natural gas production.”
Electricity, “The August Short-Term Energy Outlook introduces regional visibility into wholesale electricity prices. While EIA forecasts wholesale electricity prices will generally decrease across the nation, EIA now provides insight in regional rates variations. For example, from 2018 to 2019, prices in Texas are forecast to decrease by 28%, compared to a 0.2% decline in the Southwest.”
China is on board with the U.S. at least when it comes to protecting their own interests. Reuters is reporting that "China might escort Chinese commercial vessels in Gulf waters under a U.S. proposal for a maritime coalition to secure oil shipping lanes following attacks on tankers, its envoy to the United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday.
Reuters also reported that Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih met U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Tuesday in Washington and said both sides expressed concern over threats targeting freedom of maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf. “The meeting...dealt with the two countries’ concern over threats targeting freedom of maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf. We affirmed our determination to work together to ensure the security of global energy supplies,” Falih said in a series of tweets.
By Phil Flynn (Aug 07, 2019 08:33AM ET) < Before the EIA report came out at 10:30AM ET.
Global interest rate cuts may once again change the mood of the oil market that has been more erratic than usual. A surprise 50 basis point cut from New Zealand shocked some, as well as cut from India’s central bank which cut rates by 35 basis to 5.40%, their fourth cut in a row and bigger that than expected and more than the 25-basis point cut predicted. Thailand also cut rates. Even hawks are becoming doves as Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard seemed to suggest that trade uncertainty should set the stage for another U.S. rate cut.
Even a bullish American Petroleum Institute (API) report initially did not show oil bulls any love until the rate-cutting craze swept the globe. Oil seems to be ignoring a dramatic tightening of U.S. oil supply that is putting supplies below average and is instead focused on an oil glut to be named later. The API reported U.S. crude supply fell by 3.43 million barrels which is the eighth crude draw in a row, the longest stretch of supply drops since January of 2018 according to Bloomberg News.
The numbers suggest decent demand for products as the API reported gasoline supply down 1.1 million barrels and distillate up 1.117 million barrels.
Yet tightening crude supply and strong U.S. demand doesn’t seem to be enough if you expect the global economy to crumble down around you. Despite bullish data, the mood was dour as headlines declared Brent crude closed in the bear market territory. Of course, the last time that happened it was a screaming buy. Will this time be the same?
The real question is whether all of the global economic stimuli by central banks can counter-act weakening economic data. History shows us that when central banks around the globe move to lower rates, it has always ultimately meant a higher price for oil eventually. Oil traders though at this point seem to doubt that, as they worry about weakening economic data. Notably weaker this morning in German manufacturing. Germany’s industrial production is falling at the fastest rate since 2009. Output fell -4.2% in April-June compared with the same period a year earlier according to Reuters.
China again set their reference rate at 6.9996. Lower than yesterday and below the 7.0 number that had the Trump Administration declare China a currency manipulator. A charge that China will now have to defend.
The Energy Information Administration also lowered its outlook for U.S. oil production and for U.S. demand. They blamed the drop in U.S. output mainly on tropical storms and failed to address the growing doubts about their U.S. shale production outlook. The EIA highlights oil markets, “Despite the potential for supply disruptions around the world, EIA forecasts that Brent crude oil spot prices will remain relatively flat through the end of 2020, as EIA sees oil markets as being in relative balance next year.” “EIA’s August Short-Term Energy Outlook estimates a decrease in U.S. crude oil production in July due to the Gulf of Mexico storm Hurricane Barry. Increasing onshore production partially offset the decrease, driven by production increases in the Permian tight oil formations.” “EIA continues to forecast record U.S. crude oil production in the August outlook, which projects U.S. production to exceed an average of 13 million barrels per day in 2020. If the forecast holds, U.S. oil production will have doubled since 2012.”
Reporting on natural gas, “EIA has decreased its 2019 forecast for Henry Hub spot prices as robust natural gas production has exceeded July’s forecast. EIA expects that the Henry Hub natural gas spot price will average $2.36 per million British thermal units in the second half of 2019. Despite the near-term reductions in prices, EIA expects natural gas prices to recover somewhat in 2020 because gas production models indicate that rising prices are required in the coming quarters to bring supply into balance with rising domestic and export demand in 2020.” “EIA estimates that the U.S. power sector set a record for natural gas consumption in response to the mid-July heatwave. Despite the record consumption, inventories ended the month 4% below the five-year, compared with 19% below the five-year average a year earlier, because of record natural gas production.”
Electricity, “The August Short-Term Energy Outlook introduces regional visibility into wholesale electricity prices. While EIA forecasts wholesale electricity prices will generally decrease across the nation, EIA now provides insight in regional rates variations. For example, from 2018 to 2019, prices in Texas are forecast to decrease by 28%, compared to a 0.2% decline in the Southwest.”
China is on board with the U.S. at least when it comes to protecting their own interests. Reuters is reporting that "China might escort Chinese commercial vessels in Gulf waters under a U.S. proposal for a maritime coalition to secure oil shipping lanes following attacks on tankers, its envoy to the United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday.
Reuters also reported that Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih met U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Tuesday in Washington and said both sides expressed concern over threats targeting freedom of maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf. “The meeting...dealt with the two countries’ concern over threats targeting freedom of maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf. We affirmed our determination to work together to ensure the security of global energy supplies,” Falih said in a series of tweets.
Dan Steffens
Energy Prospectus Group
Energy Prospectus Group