WTI falls to near $69.00 amid rising oil supply odds from Middle East
- WTI faces downward pressure as expectations grow for a surge in Middle Eastern oil supply.
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted a return to normal operational flows, with 20 million oil barrels exiting the Strait.
- An Iraqi official stated Iraq must consider all options if its OPEC production quota is not significantly increased.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price loses ground for the fourth consecutive day, trading around $69.20 per barrel during European hours on Thursday. Crude oil prices are facing strong headwinds as market expectations point to a significant surge in supply from the Middle East.
Speaking at the Reuters Global Energy Forum in New York, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright highlighted this shift by noting that roughly 20 million barrels of oil recently exited the Strait within a single 24-hour window, characterizing the heavy shipments as a return to normal operational flows. Shipping data closely tracks this recovery, showing that an interim deal on Wednesday cleared the way for three previously stranded tankers carrying 5 million barrels of crude to finally exit the Gulf. Market supply is expected to expand even further due to a temporary US waiver that allows buyers to purchase already-loaded Iranian oil.
Compounding these supply pressures are growing geopolitical tensions and structural friction within OPEC itself. A senior Iraqi oil ministry official stated that Iraq will have to consider all options if its production quota is not significantly increased. The looming prospect of Iraq considering an exit from the cartel introduces further stability concerns, especially following the high-profile, surprise departure of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from OPEC earlier this year.
This combination of rising Middle Eastern output and Iran’s boost in sales from the temporary reprieve on US sanctions has already driven down the prices of physical crude oil cargoes globally. However, the long-term outlook remains debated among analysts. Goldman Sachs recently noted that it does not expect a massive, sustained pick-up in Iranian production, even if the US sanctions relief manages to extend beyond its scheduled August 21 expiry date, per Reuters.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
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