Thu 29 Nov 2018, 09:16 GMT

Central bank speeches, inventory build and G20 summit


By A/S Global Risk Management.


Michael Poulson, Senior Oil Risk Manager at Global Risk Management.
Image credit: A/S Global Risk Management
Yesterday, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its weekly oil inventory report, showing a build in crude oil stocks for the 10th week in a row - likely due to higher oil output and refinery turnarounds. U.S. crude inventories are now around a 1-year high. The data sent crude oil prices lower. U.S. oil production is currently at 11.7m bpd and it does not look like it's going to slow down. Meanwhile, the demand numbers do not look supportive due to the ongoing trade tensions which could possibly worsen and overall global economic uncertainty.

Investors anticipate the G20 meeting on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 - a meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 nations, the world's biggest economies. It is safe to say that the trade war between Washington and Beijing is top of the agenda. The outcome of the meeting is likely to have a very large effect on future expectations of global demand. In recent weeks, both OPEC and the International Energy Agency cut their demand forecasts due to overall declines in developing economies. In order to boost the global economy and thereby the overall demand for oil, a trade deal between the U.S. and China is needed.

Fed's Chair spoke last night ahead of today's FOMC meeting, and markets interpreted comments as dovish regarding the row of interest rate hikes next year, which put the U.S. dollar under pressure. A weaker dollar tends to support oil prices.

Today also sees ECB's Draghi speech as well as U.S. housing data, which could give additional volatility in the financial markets and spill over to the oil market.

BP  

Aerial view of container vessel at sea. Seaspan and Technolog unveil LNG feeder design with four-week ammonia conversion pathway  

Lloyd’s Register grants approval for a 3,370 TEU vessel concept designed for swift transition to zero-carbon fuel.

David Foo, MPA. Singapore’s MPA backs LNG as part of multi-fuel strategy for shipping decarbonisation  

Authority emphasises regulatory frameworks and workforce development as sector navigates geopolitical uncertainty and energy transition.

ABS and PIL sign MoU. ABS and PIL partner on book-and-claim emissions verification  

Classification society to verify fuel consumption and emissions data for shipping line’s alternative fuel claims.

Biofuel bunkering at Port of Açu. Vast completes first biofuel bunkering of tugboat at Brazil’s Port of Açu  

Be8’s BeVant biofuel claims up to 99% CO₂ reduction versus conventional marine diesel.

China’s Da Qing 268 vessel. Ningbo-Zhoushan Port completes first ship-to-ship green methanol bunkering  

Zhejiang province port facility delivered 503 tonnes of methanol to a container ship in one hour.

Ole Sloth Hansen and Arne Lohmann Rasmussen. KPI OceanConnect launches podcast series on bunker markets and geopolitical risk  

Marine fuel supplier debuts audio series examining commodity markets, trade route disruptions and Middle East tensions.

Auramarine biofuels webinar. Auramarine to host webinar on biofuels as a marine decarbonisation solution  

Finnish firm's May event will explore current biofuel options and integration strategies for vessels.

Thomas Bondesen, Christian Ramsdal and Jeanette Rathje, Malik Group. Malik adds bunker trader, technology head and canteen worker  

Danish marine fuels group expands team with three appointments across commercial, technical and operational functions.

Marine Money 2026 forum. AET outlines multi-fuel decarbonisation strategy at Marine Money 2026  

Tanker operator highlights innovative commercial arrangements with charterers to share decarbonisation risks and rewards.

Titan Optimus alongside Peony Leader vessel. Titan Clean Fuels completes first FuelEU Maritime pooling exercise with DNV verification  

Pool included several hundred vessels, with LNG and biomethane helping balance compliance deficits.