WTI is headed for close trading lower, having plunged following Trump’s speech at Davos where he called on OPEC to lower oil prices.
- WTI MAR 25 down 1% at 74.67$/bbl
- EIA, week ending 1/17: Crude oil: -1.0M, Domestic prod: 13.477MMbpd, Cushing: -0.1M
- Trump said that he would ask Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members to “bring down the cost of oil,” predicting that action by the bloc could decrease inflation and allow for the reduction of interest rates.
- Trump in Davos: “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff. Differing amounts but a tariff that will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our Treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt.”
- Liam Denning notes that President Trump’s threat of sweeping tariffs against Canada fits with his desire for US “energy dominance” in theory. In practice, the drive for dominance has relied heavily on Canadian oil.
- Tighter global supply concerns due to sanctions on Russia and Iran are still providing support as Asian buyers look to non-sanctioned Middle East barrels and driving up shipping costs. Some Asian refineries are looking to reduce output due to narrower margins.
- US president Donald Trump’s threats of 25% tariffs on Canadian crude, would prompt USGC refiners to look for alternatives, TD Securities said.
- Updates from shipping firms show continued reluctance to return to Red Sea transits, although early signs of increasing interest have emerged.
- India’s crude oil imports in December rose by 1.5% year on year to 19.99m tons compared to 19.07m tons in November
- Angola’s Sonangol issued its first offers for the March loading programme Jan. 23, Reuters said.