This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Thu 17 May 2018, 07:23 GMT

Oil at three-and-a-half-year high on inventory deviations, geopolitical uncertainty


By A/S Global Risk Management.


Michael Poulson, Global Risk Management.
Image credit: Global Risk Management
The weekly oil inventory report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) yesterday showed a larger-than-expected draw in crude and gasoline inventories and completely in the opposite direction of the weekly oil stocks data from the American Petroleum Institute (API), and this supported oil prices. Brent increased by $1 following the EIA release. Markets are increasingly focusing on potential shortage of supplies as global inventories are shrinking.

EIA crude oil inventories: -1.1404M barrels (-0.763M expected) API crude oil inventories: 4.854M barrels (-1.850M previous)

In its monthly oil market report, published yesterday, the International Energy Agency (IEA) lowered its global oil demand growth forecast for this year by 0.1 mio. barrels per day (bpd) to 99.2 mio. bpd. Supplies are currently 98 mio. bpd, but according to the IEA: "non-OPEC growth... will grow by 1.87 mio. bpd in 2018". The reason for the revision of demand growth could be the increasing oil prices, which could dampen consumption. According to the agency, global inventories have dropped below the 5-year average - which was a goal for the current oil production cut agreement - for the first time since 2014.

Turning to economic data, today's main potential market mover is the U.S. Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index along with a couple of Fed member speeches. Other than that, no major releases.

BP  

NYK Line car carrier render. NYK begins one-year B100 biofuel trial on car carrier  

Japanese shipping company NYK Line launches continuous 100% biofuel trial to assess long-term operational safety.

Caroline Yang, Hong Lam Marine. IBIA names Caroline Yang as chair of Asia regional board  

Hong Lam Marine CEO takes over from Capt. Rahul Choudhuri in leadership transition at the bunkering association.

Koki Harada, MOL. MOL outlines biomethane strategy and calls for cross-sector collaboration at Asia renewable gas conference  

Japanese shipping company MOL presents its bio-LNG approach and decarbonisation pathway at industry forum.

Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) logo. MTF issues safety management guidelines for wind-assisted propulsion systems  

New guidelines aim to help shipping companies integrate WAPS into safety management systems.

MSC Maria Renata vessel. Changhong International delivers LNG dual-fuel boxship to MSC 159 days ahead of schedule  

The 10,300-teu MSC Maria Renata is designed to meet ammonia-ready and methanol-ready requirements.

Birjo II vessel. Sunoil and BFT convert Dutch inland barge Birjo II to run on 100% biodiesel  

Dutch barge Birjo II has been converted to operate on B100, cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 90%.

Renewable and low-carbon methanol project pipeline chart as of May 2026. Global renewable methanol pipeline reaches 61.6 MMT as China construction accelerates  

Gena's latest tracker shows 282 projects in development, with China and Europe dominating the pipeline.

Steel-cutting ceremony for Green Handy vessel. ESL Shipping cuts steel on first methanol-powered Green Handy vessel in Nanjing  

Finnish dry bulk carrier begins construction of four new handysize ships in China.

CMA CGM Notre Dame vessel at Singapore Port. World’s largest LNG-powered container ship makes maiden Singapore call  

CMA CGM Notre Dame arrives in Singapore on her first Asia-Europe voyage.

Singapore waterfront skyline. Uni-Fuels seeks bunker trader in Singapore as Nasdaq-listed firm expands team  

Role includes managing end-to-end transactions, identifying opportunities and optimizing margins.


↑  Back to Top