WTI Futures Backwardation Hits 8-Month High as Cushing Stocks Fall
(Reuters) — The premium for front-month U.S. crude oil futures over the second-month contract CLc1-CLc2 widened to its highest since October on Wednesday, LSEG data showed, as stocks at the WTI delivery point, Cushing, Oklahoma, fell last week to a three-month low.
The market structure called backwardation means investors can sell their oil at a higher price in the spot market,
rather than for less profit next month, a sign that supply is tighter.
WTI crude futures for August delivery CLc1 settled at $82.85 per barrel on Wednesday, while the September contract CLc2 settled at $81.44 per barrel, creating a $1.61 premium for prompt barrels.
"The backwardation is likely driven by last week’s drop in crude inventories at Cushing, the delivery point of WTI," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.
"The stronger backwardation indicates in my view market participant expecting further inventory declines in Cushing," he added.
Crude stocks at the Cushing hub, excluding strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) barrels fell by 875,000 barrels to 32.66 million in the week to July 12, hitting their lowest point since April, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.
Overall U.S. crude inventories excluding SPR barrels fell by 4.87 million barrels to 440.23 million barrels. They have declined for three straight weeks, by a total of 20.47 million barrels since June 28.
Related News
Related News
- Trump Aims to Revive 1,200-Mile Keystone XL Pipeline Despite Major Challenges
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Boardwalk Approves 110-Mile, 1.16 Bcf/d Mississippi Kosci Junction Pipeline Project
- Kinder Morgan Approves $1.4 Billion Mississippi Crossing Project to Boost Southeast Gas Supply
- Colonial Shuts Largest U.S. Gasoline Pipeline to Investigate Leak
- Tullow Oil on Track to Deliver $600 Million Free Cash Flow Over Next 2 Years
- GOP Lawmakers Slam New York for Blocking $500 Million Pipeline Project
- Enbridge Should Rethink Old, Troubled Line 5 Pipeline, IEEFA Says
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Polish Pipeline Operator Offers Firm Capacity to Transport Gas to Ukraine in 2025
Comments