Bởi Maksym Misichenko · Yahoo Finance ·
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Despite initial panic-driven selloff due to unverified Hormuz reopening rumors, panelists agree that the market remains severely undersupplied through October, with damaged facilities needing up to two years to recover. They caution against pricing in an overly optimistic resolution timeline and highlight physical bottlenecks and secondary conflicts as key risks.
Rủi ro: Overly optimistic resolution timeline overlooking physical bottlenecks and secondary conflicts
Cơ hội: Tactical entry point due to market discounting a structurally fragile and operationally insufficient diplomatic resolution
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July WTI crude oil (CLN26) on Wednesday closed down -5.21 (-5.55%), and July RBOB gasoline (RBN26) closed down -0.0798 (-2.54%). Crude oil and gasoline prices on Wednesday fell sharply for a second day, with crude posting a 5-week low and gasoline posting a 6-week low. Crude prices are under pressure in hopes of a peace deal between the US and Iran that could soon reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Crude prices sold off on Wednesday after Iranian television said it obtained an unofficial draft of the US-Iran memorandum, which said US military forces would lift the naval blockade of Iran while Iran would allow restored commercial transit shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, crude prices recovered from their lows when US officials said the unofficial draft obtained by Iranian state television is a "complete fabrication" and "not true."
On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that the US and Iran have agreed to a memorandum extending the ceasefire by 60 days as the two sides seek a permanent deal. If agreed, the Strait of Hormuz would be de-mined and reopened in the meantime. Secretary of State Rubio said negotiations will still "take a few days" as both sides discuss language in an initial document.
Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a monthly report that global observed oil inventories declined at about 4 million bpd in March and April, and that the market will remain "severely undersupplied" until October, even if the conflict ends next month.
Energy prices remain underpinned by the US-Iran war, which is keeping the Strait of Hormuz essentially closed. The ongoing conflict is exacerbating global oil and fuel shortages, as about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transits through the strait. Goldman Sachs estimates that crude output in the Persian Gulf has been curtailed by about 14.5 million bpd, and that the current disruption has drawn down nearly 500 million bbl from global crude stockpiles, which could hit a billion bbl by June. Persian Gulf oil producers have been forced to cut production by roughly 6% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as local storage facilities reach capacity. Earlier this month, the IEA said that more than 80 energy facilities had been damaged during the conflict, and that recovery could take as long as 2 years.
In a bearish factor for crude, OPEC delegates said on May 14 that the cartel aims to continue a series of oil quota increases over the next few months, completing the return of halted oil production by the end of September. The group already formally agreed to restore about two-thirds of the 1.65 million bpd supply cutback it made back in 2023 and said it plans to raise output targets further and to revive the final portion in three more monthly stages. On May 3, OPEC+ said it will boost its crude output by 188,000 bpd in June after raising production by 206,000 bpd in May, although any production hike now seems unlikely given that Middle East producers are being forced to cut production due to the Middle East war. OPEC's April crude production fell by -420,000 bpd to a 35-year low of 20.55 million bpd.
Vortexa reported on Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least 7 days fell -18% w/w to 87.05 million bbl in the week ended May 22.
The most recent US-brokered meeting in Geneva to end the war between Russia and Ukraine ended early as Ukrainian President Zelensky accused Russia of dragging out the war. Russia has said the "territorial issue" remains unresolved with Ukraine, and there's "no hope of achieving a long-term settlement" to the war until Russia's demand for territory in Ukraine is accepted. The outlook for the Russia-Ukraine war to continue will keep restrictions on Russian crude in place and is bullish for oil prices.
Ukrainian drone and missile attacks have targeted at least 30 Russian refineries over the past ten months, limiting Russia's crude oil export capabilities and reducing global oil supplies. There were at least 21 Ukrainian strikes on Russia's refineries, export terminals, and oil pipeline infrastructure in April, knocking Russia's average refinery runs to 4.69 million bpd, the lowest in 16 years, according to Bloomberg data. Also, US and EU sanctions on Russian oil companies, infrastructure, and tankers have curbed Russian oil exports.
The consensus is that Thursday's weekly EIA crude inventories fell by -3.0 million bbl, and gasoline supplies fell by -2.287 million bbl.
Last Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of May 15 were -1.7% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -4.6% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -9.0% below the 5-year seasonal average. US crude oil production in the week ending May 15 fell -0.1% w/w to 13.702 million bpd, mildly 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 May 22 rose by +10 to a 10.5-month high of 425 rigs, well above the 4.25-year low of 406 rigs posted in the week ended December 19. Over the past 2.5 years, the number of US oil rigs has fallen sharply from the 5.5-year high of 627 rigs reported in December 2022.
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
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"Persistent facility damage and war-related cuts outweigh any near-term Hormuz reopening signal, keeping the market structurally tight."
The sharp selloff in July WTI (CLN26) and RBN26 appears driven by headline hopes of a US-Iran memorandum reopening Hormuz, yet the article itself flags the draft as a possible fabrication and notes negotiations will still take days. Meanwhile, IEA data shows the market severely undersupplied through October, 80+ damaged energy sites needing up to two years to recover, and Goldman Sachs estimating 500 million bbl already drawn from stockpiles. OPEC+ hikes are also constrained by war-induced cuts. These persistent supply frictions suggest the 5.55% drop may be pricing in an overly optimistic resolution timeline that overlooks physical bottlenecks and secondary conflicts like Russia-Ukraine refinery strikes.
If the 60-day ceasefire extension is confirmed within days and Hormuz de-mining begins immediately, the sudden release of 14.5 million bpd curtailed Gulf output could overwhelm the still-undersupplied narrative and drive prices lower than current levels.
"Crude has structural supply deficits (US inventories 1.7% below seasonal, Russian refinery runs at 16-year lows, 80+ damaged Middle East facilities) that a Hormuz reopening alone cannot fix within 6 months, making this dip a buying opportunity below $93."
The article frames this as bearish (Hormuz reopening = supply relief), but the math doesn't support that narrative. IEA says the market stays 'severely undersupplied' through October even if conflict ends next month. US crude inventories are -1.7% below 5-year average; gasoline -4.6% below. OPEC April production hit a 35-year low at 20.55M bpd, down 420k bpd. Ukrainian refinery strikes have cut Russian runs to 4.69M bpd (16-year low). Even if Hormuz reopens, 80+ damaged facilities need 2 years to recover. The 5.5% one-day crude drop is panic-driven by an unverified Iranian draft—not fundamental. Supply cushion is thinner than the headline suggests.
If Hormuz actually reopens within 60 days as the ceasefire memo suggests, 20% of global LNG/oil supply suddenly flows again, and the IEA's 'severely undersupplied' thesis breaks. Panic selling could overshoot downside.
"The structural supply deficit in global oil markets persists regardless of short-term diplomatic headlines regarding the Strait of Hormuz."
The market's knee-jerk reaction to the Hormuz ceasefire rumors is a classic 'buy the rumor, sell the fact' trap. While the headline volatility is driven by geopolitical noise, the structural deficit is undeniable. With the IEA signaling a 4 million bpd inventory draw and Persian Gulf output curtailed by 14.5 million bpd, the physical reality is far tighter than the price action suggests. Even if the Strait opens, the damage to 80+ energy facilities implies a multi-year recovery lag. I see the current dip as a tactical entry point; the market is discounting a diplomatic resolution that remains structurally fragile and operationally insufficient to fix global supply chains.
If the US-Iran memorandum holds, the sudden influx of 14.5 million bpd of previously trapped Persian Gulf oil could trigger a massive supply glut, crashing prices regardless of long-term facility damage.
"The core risk to a simple reopen-and-relief thesis is that structural tightness and sanctions-driven supply disruption keep prices supported even amid headlines."
Oil traders are reacting to headlines more than fundamentals. The article leans on an unofficial Iran draft and a 60 day ceasefire, but the longer run picture remains tight: IEA reiterated undersupply through October, sanctions keep Russian flows constrained, and OPEC+ is restoring output gradually. Even with a Hormuz reopening, the path to normal flow is uncertain and security costs, damaged infrastructure, and storage bottlenecks cap downside. Near term moves may stay volatile on headlines, but the supply-demand balance suggests price floors rather than outright collapse unless a credible, lasting end to the conflict materializes.
If a credible and durable Iran détente emerges, not just headlines, the rapid restoration of flows could unleash a sharp price decline that would outpace the market's pessimism.
"A verified ceasefire could drive faster futures-led downside than physical bottlenecks imply."
Gemini flags the multi-year recovery lag for damaged sites, yet this underplays how a verified 60-day ceasefire could immediately flatten the futures curve into contango as traders price partial Hormuz flows ahead of any physical restart. The IEA's October deficit is already reflected, so headline confirmation alone may force deeper near-term liquidation than the structural case allows.
"Curve dynamics reverse if the ceasefire is credible—backwardation, not contango, signals genuine supply relief."
Grok's contango argument assumes futures traders will price Hormuz reopening before physical confirmation—but that's backwards. Contango flattens when supply uncertainty *increases*, not when geopolitical risk suddenly resolves. If the 60-day ceasefire holds and de-mining begins, we'd see backwardation as near-term supply tightens further while traders scramble to cover. The curve shape depends entirely on *credibility*, not headlines. An unverified Iranian draft shouldn't move the curve at all.
"A credible ceasefire will trigger a massive front-end selloff, steepening the contango as the geopolitical risk premium is aggressively stripped out of the futures curve."
Claude, your assertion that a ceasefire would trigger backwardation is flawed. If the Hormuz bottleneck clears, the market shifts from a 'scarcity premium' to a 'supply recovery' narrative. Traders would dump front-month contracts to lock in gains, steepening the contango as immediate supply fears evaporate. The current 5.5% drop proves the market is already pricing in a diplomatic 'fact' rather than waiting for physical flow. We are witnessing a regime shift in risk sentiment, not just a headline blip.
"A credible ceasefire doesn't automatically unlock near-term flows; sanctions/logistics can keep supply tight and futures in contango or volatile, so curve shape can't be assumed to move backward on headlines."
Claude's backwardation idea hinges on credibility, but futures curve behavior isn't binary. Even with a credible 60-day ceasefire, sanctions, shipping insurance, and port/logistics frictions can delay actual flows, keeping near-term risk skewed to supply worry. That could keep the curve steeper in contango or spatter volatility, even as headlines improve. The takeaway: don't assume a clean shift to backwardation on a ceasefire.
Despite initial panic-driven selloff due to unverified Hormuz reopening rumors, panelists agree that the market remains severely undersupplied through October, with damaged facilities needing up to two years to recover. They caution against pricing in an overly optimistic resolution timeline and highlight physical bottlenecks and secondary conflicts as key risks.
Tactical entry point due to market discounting a structurally fragile and operationally insufficient diplomatic resolution
Overly optimistic resolution timeline overlooking physical bottlenecks and secondary conflicts