PREVIEW: Oil Futures Advance as Iran Accord Deadline Nears
4/24 7:40 AM
PREVIEW: Oil Futures Advance as Iran Accord Deadline Nears
CRANBURY, N.J. (DTN) -- Nearest delivered oil futures traded on the New York
Mercantile Exchange and Brent crude on the Intercontinental Exchange edged
higher in early trading following Monday's advance to fresh settlement highs,
as geopolitical concerns join supportive fundamentals in boosting values.
The quickly approaching May 12 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump
for major changes to be made to the 2015 Iranian nuclear accord is supporting
higher oil prices, especially Brent which widened its premium to West Texas
Intermediate to $6.07 bbl at Monday's settlement---the widest the spread has
been since the opening trading days of 2018.
Trump has demanded three changes to the agreement regarding inspections at
Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran's ballistic missile program, and the timeline
that allows Tehran to resume its nuclear program. Absent these changes Trump
said he would withdraw the United States from the agreement, which would
re-impose sanctions on Iran that analysts estimate could cut Iranian crude
exports by 350,000 bpd.
French President Emmanuel Macron is meeting with Trump today, with
expectations Macron will urge Trump not to withdraw from the accord. Macron is
also expected to discuss the Syrian civil war. Earlier this month, U.S., French
and British forces launched a missile strike against Syrian chemical weapons
facilities in response to Syria's use of chemical weapons on a rebel enclave
near Damascus. Iran and Russia are allied with the Syrian regime.
Trump will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, with
Merkel also expected to try and persuade Trump to maintain U.S. participation
with the accord.
The Yemen conflict is also underpinning higher crude values this week, with
Saudi Arabia on Monday reporting that 19 oil tankers were being held by Houthi
rebels near the port of Hodeidah, notes Naples, Fla.-based PFI. Saudi Arabia is
leading a coalition in Yemen to oust the Houthis, which have support from Iran.
Tehran denies involvement in the conflict. On Monday, there were reports that a
Saudi airstrike in Yemen killed the political leader of the Houthis.
PFI also notes an attack on the Waha oil field in Libya over the weekend
that is seen cutting production by 80,000 bpd until repairs are completed,
which are seen taking a few days. Libya, a member of the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries, averaged 968,000 bpd of crude production in
March, a three-month low.
Overnight, NYMEX ULSD and ICE Brent crude traded at fresh multiyear highs on
their spot continuous chart, with the NYMEX RBOB contract holding just below
Monday's $2.1367 gallon nearly eight-month spot high. WTI futures are nearing
last week's $69.56 bbl better-than three-year spot high, while the U.S. dollar
softens after trading at a fresh nearly eight-week high overnight.
Futures at 8:00 AM ET
NYMEX Contract Last Change High Low
WTI June $68.85 $0.21 $69.33 $68.70
WTI July $68.59 $0.22 $69.11 $68.53
ULSD May $2.1413 $0.0004 $2.1522 $2.1390
ULSD June $2.1336 $0.0033 $2.1432 $2.1306
RBOB May $2.1249 $0.0050 $2.1354 $2.1227
RBOB June $2.1265 $0.0035 $2.1379 $2.1251
ICE
Brent June $74.81 $0.10 $75.27 $74.65
Brent July $74.08 $0.07 $74.55 $73.91
SPOT PRODUCT MARKETS
Spot market oil product prices in U.S. cash markets opened the new trading
week higher fueled by a late session futures upside surge.
San Francisco CARBOB rallied over 4.0cts rated at a 13.5cts June futures
premium and climbed 2.08cts in Los Angeles, priced 15.5cts over the June MERC.
Portland suboctane regular maintained a 17.0cts May futures premium that fueled
a 2.78cts spot price advance.
Gulf Coast 7.8-lb. RBOB improved 75pts in basis and 3.53cts in flat price to
$2.0962 gallon, and matched the futures bounce in New York Harbor for 9.0-lb.
quality RBOB. Chicago and Group 3 9.0-lb. CBOB values each ramped up 50pts in
cash differential and 3.53cts in spot prices.
Prompt ULSD in Portland gained 150pts in basis and 3.29cts in spot price
rated at a 17.0cts May futures premium at $2.3459 gallon. CARB ULSD in the Bay
rode the 1.72cts June futures advance higher rated at a 6.0cts MERC premium,
and eased a penny in cash differential in the basin the limited spot price to a
0.72cts session gain.
Open market ULSD in Chicago ramped up 2.16cts on a prompt deal closed 3.5cts
below the May futures print, and by 2.44cts in Group 3 trading at a 1.35cts
MERC discount. Gulf Coast 62-grade diesel sold at a 4.3cts June futures
discount that boosted spot price by 1.54cts, and edged 1.29cts higher in the
Harbor versus a 0.25cts MERC premium.
NEW YORK HARBOR GULF COAST
Heating Oil $2.0735 Heating Oil $1.9648
ULS Heating Oil $2.1110 ULS Heating Oil $2.0605
ULSD $2.1460 ULSD $2.1005
Jet, 54-grade $2.1910 Jet, 54-grade $2.0786
Conventional Regular $2.1014 Conventional Regular $2.0624
RBOB $2.1149 Conventional Premium $2.2099
PBOB $2.2474 RBOB $2.0974
CBOB Regular $2.0349 PBOB $2.2349
CBOB Premium $2.2149 CBOB Regular $2.0524
CBOB Regular 7.8 $2.0749 CBOB Premium $2.2349
CBOB Premium 7.8 $2.2524 A2 CBOB $1.9999
D2 CBOB $2.1824
GROUP 3
ULSD $2.1300
Jet $2.1060 CHICAGO
Suboctane Gasoline $2.0049 ULSD $2.1085
Conventional Premium $2.2099 Jet $2.1335
CBOB Regular $2.0499
LOS ANGELES Conventional Premium $2.3149
ULSD $2.2086 RBOB $2.1599
CARB ULSD $2.2086 PBOB $2.3499
Jet $2.1711
Conventional Regular $2.2715
Conventional Premium $2.4315 PORTLAND
CARBOB Regular $2.2815 ULSD $2.3485
CARBOB Premium $2.4315 Jet $2.2110
Suboctane Gasoline $2.2949
SAN FRANCISCO Conventional Premium $2.6499
ULSD $2.2035
CARB ULSD $2.2035
Jet $2.1810
Conventional Regular $2.2315
Conventional Premium $2.5215
CARBOB Regular $2.2615
CARBOB Premium $2.5215
Brian L. Milne, 1.609.371.3328, brian.milne@dtn.com, www.dtn.com. (c) 2018
DTN. All rights reserved.
