Oil Prices Decline As Dollar Keeps Strengthening

(Bloomberg) -- Oil declined for a second day as the market’s underlying structure weakened and the dollar strengthened.

Futures edged 0.3% lower in New York on Monday, paring earlier losses as U.S. equities reversed a decline. While the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index faded from a session high, a small gain for the greenback still weighed on commodities priced in the currency.

Crude wasn’t able to shake off declines entirely as key calendar spreads weakened. West Texas Intermediate crude’s nearest timespread settled at its deepest contango structure since January, signaling oversupply. Flagging demand for U.S. exports is hitting the market at the same time as domestic oil output has outpaced the recovery in refineries after last month’s deep freeze.

“There’s a little bit of consolidation after the pretty sizable move” in prices, said Stewart Glickman, energy equity analyst at CFRA Research. “Inventory levels are not terrible, but demand isn’t all the way back.”

Prices are up more than 30% this year, but the rally is reviving some worries that further gains will trigger a comeback in U.S. shale production. Traders are also watching for signs that more Iranian barrels may hit the market amid U.S. efforts to return to the nuclear deal.

“The possibility of Iranian oil coming back onto the market at some point,” is weighing on the supply outlook, said Tariq Zahir, managing member of the global macro program at Tyche Capital Advisors LLC. “Getting them back into the nuclear deal, allowing some sanctions to be lifted and oil to be sold, that’s a lot of oil in the market.”

Meanwhile, risks to the demand recovery remain, with Europe’s biggest countries suspending use of AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid-19 shot in another delay for the European Union’s vaccination campaign. The rebound for energy consumption will hinge on how well economies are able to open back up after Covid lockdowns.

Prices

• West Texas Intermediate for April delivery fell 22 cents to $65.39 a barrel
• Brent for May settlement declined 34 cents to $68.88 a barrel

Still, a growing number of major investment banks have boosted their outlook for crude prices with OPEC+ currently keeping output restrained and bright spots emerging for demand. Bank of America Global Research raised its full-year forecasts for global and U.S. benchmark crude futures, while Citigroup Inc. predicts Brent may even hit $80 a barrel in the next few months.

In China, industrial output surged in the first two months of the year, underscoring the strength of its V-shaped rebound and reinforcing expectations for increased energy demand.

China processed more than 14 million barrels a day of crude in January and February, and refiners have kept consumption above that level every month since June. There are also bullish demand signs elsewhere, with U.S. air passenger numbers hitting a 12-month high on Friday, while road use is creeping up in parts of Europe.

Related news:

• Number of U.S. wells already drilled waiting for frack crews to complete them fell for the seventh straight month to the lowest since November 2018, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its monthly drilling productivity report.
• U.S. attempts to prevent Iran from exporting oil suffered a blow after a United Arab Emirates sheikh laid claim to a cargo that Washington seized and alleged is from the Islamic Republic.
• Iran said Israel was likely behind an explosion that damaged an Iranian container ship in the Mediterranean last week, as the longtime foes trade accusations of attacks at sea.
• Petroleos Mexicanos discovered what’s expected to be a billion-barrel oil field in Tabasco as it aims to reverse a decade and a half of sinking production.

--With assistance from Javier Blas.

© 2021 Bloomberg L.P.