US OIL: October 9 - Americas End of Day Oil Summary: Crude Collapses
WTI crude collapsed below $60 under renewed pressure after Trump posts threatening more extensive tariffs against China, as well as possibly withdrawing from his face-to-face meeting with Xi, adding to pressure from an easing geopolitical risk premium and oversupply concerns. Declining consumer sentiment was also a bearish indicator. Big volumes of WTI puts at 60 and Brent puts at 65 could lead to gamma hedging (changing delta hedge positions).
- The Baker Hughes oil rig count was down 4 to 418 w/w, down 63 y/y
- The Gaza agreement reduces geopolitical risk in the key oil-exporting Middle East after prices had risen earlier in the week following a more cautious OPEC November output increase.
- Venezuela is said to have offered the US various concessions including stakes in its oil resources in an effort to avoid US conflict, before diplomatic efforts broke down earlier this week, according to the NYT.
- Saudi Aramco is set to sell ~39-40mbbl of contractual supplies of November loading crude to China, compared to 50-51mbbl a month ago, Bloomberg said. Lower than expected OSPs announced earlier this month weren’t enough to rise buying interest, Bloomberg sources said.
- The shortfall in supply can be partially attributed to stockpiling in China, with Beijing stockpiling nearly 205m bbl, or 840k b/d since August, according to BNEF estimates.
- Oil could recover to $70/bbl by the end of 2026, underpinned by rising demand or OPEC taking steps to support the market with production cuts, according to ANZ cited by Bloomberg.
- Global crude and condensate exports reached near-peak levels of over 45mb/d in September, Vortexa said. However, in the short term the oil market is likely able to absorb these volumes into onshore storage.
- Concerns of a looming supply glut are set to exert additional pressure on crude prices, according to DNB Carnegie
- Near term crude options are the most bearish since early September.
- Pemex completed the shutdown of multiple units at its 312,500 b/d Deer Park, Texas, refinery on Thursday to begin a multi-unit overhaul, people familiar with plant operations said.
- Chevron El Segundo refinery had an unplanned flare event
- A bearish theme in WTI futures remains intact and short-term gains are considered corrective. Recent weakness resulted in a move through key support and a bear trigger at $60.85, the Aug 13 low. Clearance of this level strengthens the bear threat and paves the way for an extension towards $57.50, the May 30 low. Initial firm resistance is at $66.42, the Sep 29 high. Clearance of this level would highlight a reversal.
- Cracks are mixed overall, with product pricing tracking declines in crude. US gasoline and diesel cracks are both set for a net gain this week, underpinned by refinery disruption.
- WTI Nov futures were down 4.2% at $58.90
- WTI Dec futures were down 4.1% at $58.49
- RBOB Nov futures were down 3.3% at $1.82
- ULSD Nov futures were down 3.3% at $2.20
- US gasoline crack up 0$/bbl at 17.57$/bbl
- US ULSD crack down 0.3$/bbl at 33.75/bbl