MA(9): $63.35
MA(20): $63.19
MACD: -0.4207
Signal: -0.2174
Days since crossover: 2
Value: 38.43
Category: NEUTRAL
Current: 6,985
Avg (20d): 226,737
Ratio: 0.03
%K: 4.12
%D: 8.69
ADX: 11.39
+DI: 17.15
-DI: 27.1
Value: -95.88
Upper: 65.57
Middle: 63.19
Lower: 60.8
| Category | Current | Last Week | Last Year | 3 Yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Production (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 13505.0 | 13501.0 | 13200.0 | 12733.33 |
| Crude Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 5833.0 | 6495.0 | 6456.0 | 6263.33 |
| Crude Exports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 3751.0 | 4484.0 | 3897.0 | 4461.67 |
| Refinery Inputs (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 16168.0 | 16476.0 | 16353.0 | 15751.33 |
| Net Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 2082.0 | 2011.0 | 2559.0 | 1801.67 |
| Commercial Crude Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 416546.0 | 414754.0 | 413042.0 | 420065.67 |
| Crude & Products Total Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 1695087.0 | 1687905.0 | 1649879.0 | 1636650.33 |
| Gasoline Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 220694.0 | 216569.0 | 220083.0 | 218548.67 |
| Distillate Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 123577.0 | 122999.0 | 122921.0 | 117116.0 |
Brent crude (NOV 25) settled at $67.04, change $+0.02. WTI crude (NOV 25) settled at $61.78, change $-0.59. The Brent-WTI spread is currently $5.26 (Brent premium of $5.26). The Brent-WTI spread reflects differences in global vs. U.S. supply/demand dynamics, geopolitics, and transportation costs.
The current OPEC market situation reflects a slight decline in crude oil prices, with the OPEC Reference Basket averaging $69.73/b in August. Despite this, the market fundamentals remain solid, supported by stable global economic growth and a consistent demand forecast for oil, particularly in non-OECD regions.
| Category | Production (mb/d) | Demand (mb/d) |
|---|---|---|
| World Production |
Americas: 25.19 Europe: 13.51 Asia Pacific: 7.13 Total OECD: 45.83 China: 16.85 India: 5.70 Other Asia: 9.89 Latin America: 6.89 Middle East: 9.01 Africa: 4.80 Russia: 4.02 Other Eurasia: 1.31 Other Europe: 0.82 Total Non-OECD: 59.31 |
Americas Demand: 25.19 Europe Demand: 13.51 Asia Pacific Demand: 7.13 Total OECD Demand: 45.83 China Demand: 16.85 India Demand: 5.70 Other Asia Demand: 9.89 Latin America Demand: 6.89 Middle East Demand: 9.01 Africa Demand: 4.80 Russia Demand: 4.02 Other Eurasia Demand: 1.31 Other Europe Demand: 0.82 Total World Demand: 105.14 |
The analysis indicates a balanced supply-demand scenario for 2025, with total world production at approximately 105.14 mb/d, matching the demand forecast. This equilibrium suggests no significant surplus or deficit, which is favorable for price stability in the near term.
In August, OPEC's crude oil production increased by 509 tb/d, averaging about 42.40 mb/d. Major contributors to production include the US, Brazil, and Canada, which are expected to drive non-DoC liquids production growth. The production landscape shows a steady output from key regions, particularly the Americas and the Middle East.
Global oil demand is projected to grow by 1.3 mb/d in 2025, with significant contributions from non-OECD countries, particularly China and India. The OECD region is expected to see modest growth, indicating a shift in demand dynamics towards emerging markets.
Non-DoC production is forecasted to grow by 0.8 mb/d in 2025, led by the US and Brazil, while DoC production is expected to increase by 0.1 mb/d. This highlights the contrasting growth trajectories between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, with Non-DoC countries significantly contributing to global supply growth.
OPEC's current market position remains strong, supported by solid production levels and stable demand forecasts. The organization is likely to continue its cautious approach to production adjustments, focusing on maintaining market balance amidst fluctuating global economic conditions.
Looking ahead, the market is expected to experience stable prices with gradual demand growth, particularly in non-OECD regions. Continued investment in production capacity by non-DoC countries may challenge OPEC's market share, necessitating strategic responses from the organization.
CFTC Commitment of Traders Report (Disaggregated) as of 2025-09-23
Crude Oil Positioning (WTI-PHYSICAL - NYMEX):
Open Interest: 1,936,690 contracts (-25,930)
Managed Money Net Position: 26,483 contracts (1.4% of OI)
Weekly Change in Managed Money Net: -10,316 contracts
Producer/Merchant Net Position: 283,712 contracts
Swap Dealer Net Position: -402,312 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-03 | $60.57 | $58.51 | $62.64 |
| 2025-10-04 | $60.72 | $58.65 | $62.78 |
| 2025-10-05 | $60.81 | $58.74 | $62.87 |
| 2025-10-06 | $60.88 | $58.82 | $62.95 |
| 2025-10-07 | $60.93 | $58.86 | $62.99 |
Current market conditions indicate a bearish sentiment, with a sentiment score of -0.850 reflecting concerns over supply and demand dynamics. The $67.04 for Brent and $61.78 for WTI suggest potential support levels around recent lows, while the $5.26 Brent-WTI spread indicates ongoing divergence in market dynamics, possibly influenced by geopolitical factors and transportation costs.
Traders should be cautious of volatility as hedge fund positions have turned net short, suggesting potential for further downward pressure. Monitoring key resistance levels may provide opportunities for short-term trades, especially if prices approach Fibonacci retracement levels.
The current bearish market sentiment may necessitate a reevaluation of hedging strategies and production planning. With OECD commercial crude stocks at 1,317 mb, significantly below historical averages, producers should consider potential supply-demand imbalances that could affect pricing.
The increase in non-DoC liquids production, particularly from the US, Brazil, and Canada, could impact global supply dynamics. Producers may need to adjust output levels or enhance operational efficiencies to navigate inventory fluctuations and market sentiment affecting their operations.
Consumers should prepare for potential input cost fluctuations as Brent and WTI prices remain under pressure. The recent $67.04 and $61.78 prices suggest that refining margins may be affected by the bearish sentiment in the market, particularly in regions where refining margins have already declined.
Additionally, geopolitical tensions and fluctuating inventories may pose supply reliability risks. It is advisable for consumers to consider procurement strategies that mitigate these risks, including potential hedging against price increases or securing long-term contracts where feasible.
The Crude Oil market is currently characterized by a bearish outlook driven by oversupply concerns, as indicated by the negative sentiment score of -0.850. Key factors include stable yet modest global oil demand growth forecasts and increasing production from non-OPEC countries, which may lead to further supply-demand imbalances.
Analysts should closely monitor the implications of the widening Brent-WTI spread and the positioning of managed money, which is currently in a normal range but weakening. This could signal a shift in market dynamics that warrants further investigation into potential market outlook shifts in the coming months.