January WTI crude oil (CLF25) today is up +0.64 (+0.93%), and January RBOB gasoline (RBF25) is up +0.0231 (+1.18%).

Crude oil and gasoline prices today recovered from early losses and moved higher after Bloomberg reported that OPEC+ had begun discussions to delay oil production further increases initially set to begin in January.   Crude prices today initially moved lower amid reports Israel and Hezbollah are close to a cease-fire, which eases geopolitical risks in the Middle East.  A stronger dollar today is also bearish for energy prices.  

Short covering emerged in crude futures today to push prices higher after Bloomberg reported that OPEC+ crude producers doubt they can proceed with the +180,000 bpd increase in crude production currently scheduled for January.  The group also said further hikes in crude production may need to be postponed for the following months.  

A bearish factor for crude is optimism that Israel and Hezbollah are close to a cease-fire, which would ease tensions and reduce the chance of disruption to crude supplies from the Middle East.  The Israeli ambassador to the US said a cease-fire agreement between his country and Hezbollah could happen "within days."

An increase in crude oil held worldwide on tankers is bearish for oil prices.  Vortexa reported Monday that crude oil stored on tankers that have been stationary for at least seven days rose by +34% w/w to 74.83 million bbl in the week ended November 22.

The consensus is that OPEC+ will delay an expected +180,000 bpd of production from January until Q2 of 2025, when the group meets online on  December 1.  The group had previously agreed to restore 2.2 million bpd of output in monthly installments between January and late 2025.  Also, the UAE is being allowed to gradually phase on a further 300,000 bpd in recognition of recent increases to its production capacity.

Escalation of the Ukraine-Russian war is supportive of crude prices.  Russia launched a new hypersonic missile into the city of Dnipro last week, following Ukraine's expanded use of Western-provided long-range missiles.  Also, Ukraine fired British cruise missiles at military targets inside Russia for the first time after the UK government approved the action in response to Russia deploying North Korean troops in the Ukraine war.  Also last week, Ukraine carried out its first missile strikes on a border region in Russia using US-supplied missiles, which prompted Russian President Putin to approve an updated nuclear doctrine that expands the conditions for Russia to use atomic weapons, including in response to a conventional attack on its soil.  

Crude demand in China has weakened and is a bearish factor for oil prices.  According to data compiled by Bloomberg, China's Oct apparent oil demand fell -5.4% y/y to 14.07 million bpd, and Jan-Oct apparent oil demand was down -4.03% y/y to 14.00 million bpd.  China is the world's second-largest crude consumer.

An increase in Russian crude exports is bearish for crude.  Weekly vessel-tracking data from Bloomberg showed Russian crude exports rose by +100,000 bpd to 2.93 million bpd in the week to November 24.  Separately, Russia's Energy Ministry reported on October 23 that Russia's Sep crude production was 8.97 million bpd, down -13,000 bpd from Aug and just below the 8.98 million bpd output target it agreed to with OPEC+.

Last Wednesday's EIA report showed that (1) US crude oil inventories as of November 15 were -4.5% below the seasonal 5-year average, (2) gasoline inventories were -4.0% below the seasonal 5-year average, and (3) distillate inventories were -4.5% below the 5-year seasonal average.  US crude oil production in the week ending November 8 fell -0.7%  w/w to 13.4 million bpd, falling back from the record 13.5 million bpd in the prior week.

Baker Hughes reported last Friday that active US oil rigs in the week ending November 22 rose +1 rig to 479 rigs, just above the 2-3/4 year low of 477 rigs posted in the week ending July 19.  The number of US oil rigs has fallen over the past two years from the 4-1/2 year high of 627 rigs posted in December 2022.