MA(9): $66.62
MA(20): $66.81
MACD: -0.0394
Signal: 0.2251
Days since crossover: 22
Value: 47.97
Category: NEUTRAL
Current: 9,632
Avg (20d): 191,184
Ratio: 0.05
%K: 29.96
%D: 19.98
ADX: 13.28
+DI: 22.38
-DI: 21.72
Value: -70.04
Upper: 68.82
Middle: 66.81
Lower: 64.81
| Category | Current (BCFD) | Last Week | Last Year | 3 Yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Production (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 13273.0 | 13375.0 | 13300.0 | 12533.33 |
| Crude Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 5976.0 | 6379.0 | 7037.0 | 6467.33 |
| Crude Exports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 3855.0 | 3518.0 | 3964.0 | 4441.67 |
| Refinery Inputs (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 16936.0 | 16849.0 | 16928.0 | 16304.0 |
| Net Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 2121.0 | 2861.0 | 3073.0 | 2025.67 |
| Commercial Crude Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 418993.0 | 422162.0 | 440226.0 | 438463.67 |
| Crude & Products Total Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 1653187.0 | 1658540.0 | 1669754.0 | 1656358.0 |
| Gasoline Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 231129.0 | 232867.0 | 232994.0 | 223384.33 |
| Distillate Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 109901.0 | 106970.0 | 128066.0 | 118328.67 |
Brent crude (SEP 25) settled at $68.51, change $-0.08. WTI crude (SEP 25) settled at $65.25, change $-0.06. The Brent-WTI spread is currently $3.26 (Brent premium of $3.26). The Brent-WTI spread reflects differences in global vs. U.S. supply/demand dynamics, geopolitics, and transportation costs.
OPEC expresses a cautious optimism regarding the oil market, highlighting steady demand growth despite recent economic fluctuations.
| Metric | Value/Forecast | Source/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| World Oil Demand Growth 2025 | 1.3 mb/d | Unchanged from last month’s assessment |
| World Oil Demand Growth 2026 | 1.3 mb/d | Unchanged from last month’s assessment |
| Non-OPEC Liquids Supply Growth 2025 | 0.8 mb/d | Revised down by 0.1 mb/d |
| Non-OPEC Liquids Supply Growth 2026 | 0.8 mb/d | Revised down by 0.1 mb/d |
| Call on OPEC Crude 2025 | 42.6 mb/d | Revised upward by 0.1 mb/d |
| Call on OPEC Crude 2026 | 42.9 mb/d | Revised upward by 0.1 mb/d |
| OECD Commercial Stock Deviation | 173 mb below 2015–2019 average | As of March |
| Compliance Levels | N/A | Not Mentioned |
OPEC maintains a proactive stance on ensuring market stability, with a focus on balancing supply and demand dynamics. The organization is closely monitoring global economic indicators and adjusting its production strategies to support price stability and sustainable growth in the oil market.
"The front end of the ICE Brent, NYMEX WTI and GME Oman forward curves strengthened further in April, reflecting traders’ optimism about the market outlook in the short-term."
"Demand for DoC crude is revised upward, indicating a positive shift in market expectations."
CFTC Commitment of Traders Report (Disaggregated) as of 2025-07-15
Crude Oil Positioning (WTI-PHYSICAL - NYMEX):
Open Interest: 2,069,099 contracts (+77,874)
Managed Money Net Position: 91,769 contracts (4.4% of OI)
Weekly Change in Managed Money Net: -53,928 contracts
Producer/Merchant Net Position: 303,419 contracts
Swap Dealer Net Position: -491,815 contracts
Market Sentiment (based on Managed Money): Bullish but Weakening
Positioning Analysis (Managed Money): Normal Range
Key Takeaways:
- Managed Money traders are large speculators, often driving price trends in Crude Oil.
- Producer/Merchant positions primarily reflect hedging activity.
- Swap Dealers act as intermediaries.
- Extreme positioning by Managed Money can indicate potential market reversals.
- CFTC data reports positions as of the report date, usually released each Friday.
About Disaggregated CoT Reports:
The Disaggregated CoT report provides a more detailed breakdown of futures market open interest.
It categorizes traders into: Producer/Merchant/Processor/User (Commercials), Swap Dealers, Managed Money (Speculators), and Other Reportables.
| Date | Prediction | Lower Bound | Upper Bound |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-25 | $66.06 | $62.57 | $69.55 |
| 2025-07-26 | $66.09 | $62.6 | $69.58 |
| 2025-07-27 | $66.15 | $62.66 | $69.64 |
| 2025-07-28 | $66.18 | $62.7 | $69.67 |
| 2025-07-29 | $66.14 | $62.65 | $69.63 |
The recent decline in Crude Oil prices, with $68.98/b for the OPEC Reference Basket, indicates potential bearish market sentiment. The narrowing of the Brent-WTI spread to $3.50/b suggests that traders should monitor the dynamics between global and U.S. supply, which may present risks for price volatility.
With the support level around $62.00/b and resistance near $68.00/b, traders should be cautious of potential price fluctuations driven by geopolitical influences and changing demand forecasts. The short-term opportunities could arise from the backwardation in the futures curves, reflecting trader optimism.
The current market dynamics suggest a need for careful hedging strategies as bearish sentiment prevails. With $62.96/b for WTI, producers should evaluate production planning against projected supply and demand forecasts, particularly as global oil demand is expected to grow by 1.3 mb/d in 2025.
The increase in OECD commercial oil inventories to 2,740 mb could impact market prices, necessitating close monitoring of inventory levels to inform operational decisions. The impact of geopolitical factors and fluctuating market sentiment will also be critical for strategic planning.
Consumers should prepare for potential input cost fluctuations as WTI prices hover around $62.96/b. The bearish sentiment in the market may influence procurement strategies, especially with the ongoing supply reliability risks stemming from geopolitical tensions and inventory levels.
The recent trends in refinery margins, particularly in the USGC, indicate a need for strategic procurement to mitigate costs while capitalizing on seasonal demand for gasoline. Monitoring the support level around $60.00/b could be beneficial for planning and budgeting.
The Crude Oil market presents a complex picture, with bearish sentiment dominating due to declining prices and increasing inventories. Key driving factors include a projected growth in global oil demand and a slight decrease in non-DoC liquids supply growth forecasts, which could shift the supply-demand balance.
Analysts should focus on the implications of CFTC positioning, where managed money traders exhibit a weakening bullish stance. This shift, combined with geopolitical developments and economic forecasts, may indicate potential outlook shifts in the coming months, necessitating close observation of market trends.