WTI remains subdued near $87.50 as Trump signals renewed Iran talks
- WTI falls as traders expect renewed US–Iran talks before the current two-week ceasefire expires.
- The United States maintains a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports via the Strait of Hormuz.
- IEA said global oil supply is expected to decline by 1.5 million barrels per day this year.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price extends its losses for the second consecutive day, trading around $87.50 per barrel during the Asian hours on Wednesday. Crude oil prices fall amid easing supply concerns as traders anticipate a second round of peace talks between the United States (US) and Iran before the current two-week ceasefire expires.
The New York Post reported that US President Donald Trump signaled negotiations could resume this week, while also opposing a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance highlighted “significant progress” in the initial round of Iran talks held in Pakistan, with follow-up discussions potentially set to take place within days.
The United States continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran is reportedly considering a temporary halt in shipments via the corridor to support progress toward a potential agreement.
Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) showed US Crude Oil Stock rose by 6.1 million barrels in the week ending April 10, up from a 3.72 million-barrel increase in the prior week. This marks a second straight build, pointing to renewed stockpile accumulation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and shifting global supply expectations.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its latest monthly report that global oil supply is expected to decline by 1.5 million barrels per day this year, as attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure and Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupt production and exports. This represents about 1.5% of global demand and contrasts with earlier projections of supply growth, according to 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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