MA(9): $63.25
MA(20): $64.79
MACD: -0.8798
Signal: -0.8842
Days since crossover: 1
Value: 45.1
Category: NEUTRAL
Current: 9,712
Avg (20d): 254,176
Ratio: 0.04
%K: 36.8
%D: 33.27
ADX: 16.79
+DI: 14.6
-DI: 19.63
Value: -63.2
Upper: 69.36
Middle: 64.79
Lower: 60.22
| Category | Current (BCFD) | Last Week | Last Year | 3 Yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Production (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 13382.0 | 13327.0 | 13300.0 | 12733.33 |
| Crude Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 6497.0 | 6920.0 | 6285.0 | 6585.33 |
| Crude Exports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 4372.0 | 3577.0 | 3756.0 | 4160.0 |
| Refinery Inputs (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 17208.0 | 17180.0 | 16467.0 | 16573.33 |
| Net Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 2125.0 | 3343.0 | 2529.0 | 2425.33 |
| Commercial Crude Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 420684.0 | 426698.0 | 430678.0 | 427076.33 |
| Crude & Products Total Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 1666537.0 | 1670549.0 | 1663659.0 | 1645789.33 |
| Gasoline Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 223570.0 | 226290.0 | 222203.0 | 217956.67 |
| Distillate Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 116028.0 | 113685.0 | 126123.0 | 117031.0 |
Brent crude (OCT 25) settled at $67.73, change $+0.06. WTI crude (OCT 25) settled at $63.66, change $+0.14. The Brent-WTI spread is currently $4.07 (Brent premium of $4.07). The Brent-WTI spread reflects differences in global vs. U.S. supply/demand dynamics, geopolitics, and transportation costs.
OPEC expresses a cautious sentiment regarding the oil market, acknowledging both growth in global demand and challenges in supply dynamics.
| 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 Stocks (March) | 2,740 mb | 10.3 mb higher m-o-m |
| OECD Commercial Crude Stocks | 1,323 mb | 139 mb less than 2015–2019 average |
| OECD Total Product Stocks | 1,417 mb | 34 mb below 2015–2019 average |
| Days of Forward Cover | 60.3 days | 2.2 days lower than 2015–2019 average |
OPEC maintains a focus on market stability, emphasizing the need for cooperation among member countries to address supply-demand imbalances and ensure a balanced oil market moving forward.
"The demand for DoC crude has been revised upward, reflecting a more optimistic outlook for market stability."
CFTC Commitment of Traders Report (Disaggregated) as of 2025-08-19
Crude Oil Positioning (WTI-PHYSICAL - NYMEX):
Open Interest: 1,922,821 contracts (-88,138)
Managed Money Net Position: 27,445 contracts (1.4% of OI)
Weekly Change in Managed Money Net: -21,420 contracts
Producer/Merchant Net Position: 297,794 contracts
Swap Dealer Net Position: -438,348 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-23 | $63.63 | $61.67 | $65.58 |
| 2025-08-24 | $63.66 | $61.71 | $65.62 |
| 2025-08-25 | $63.61 | $61.65 | $65.56 |
| 2025-08-26 | $63.59 | $61.63 | $65.54 |
| 2025-08-27 | $63.58 | $61.62 | $65.53 |
The recent decline in crude oil prices presents both opportunities and risks for traders. The Brent-WTI spread currently at $4.07 indicates a narrowing premium for Brent, reflecting divergent supply/demand dynamics between global and U.S. markets.
With the ICE Brent and NYMEX WTI futures showing signs of short-term backwardation, traders should monitor potential Fibonacci retracement levels for further price action. The managed money net position is currently weakening, suggesting caution in bullish bets.
The current inventory levels indicate a mixed outlook for production planning. With OECD commercial crude stocks at 1,323 mb, below the 2015–2019 average, producers may need to adjust output to align with demand forecasts for 2025 and 2026, which show modest growth.
Given the market sentiment remains optimistic, albeit with caution, implementing hedging strategies could mitigate risks associated with price volatility. The decline in production from OPEC+ countries also suggests potential tightening in supply, which may benefit pricing.
Consumers should prepare for potential input cost fluctuations as crude prices exhibit volatility. The recent decline in crude prices coupled with increasing refinery margins in specific regions indicates a possible short-term stabilization in costs, but geopolitical tensions and inventory levels may pose supply reliability risks.
It's advisable to consider procurement strategies that account for these fluctuations, especially with the decline in U.S. crude imports and the ongoing dynamics in the global oil market.
The Crude Oil market is currently influenced by a mix of optimistic sentiment and declining prices. Key drivers include global oil demand growth projected at 1.3 mb/d for 2025, alongside a downward revision in non-DoC supply growth.
The managed money positioning reflects a weakening bullish sentiment, indicating potential shifts in market dynamics. Analysts should explore the implications of geopolitical factors and economic growth forecasts on future price movements and supply-demand balances.