💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

UPDATE 2-Looming gasoline glut pulls down global crude oil prices

Published 05/04/2016, 02:56 pm
Updated 05/04/2016, 03:00 pm
© Reuters. UPDATE 2-Looming gasoline glut pulls down global crude oil prices
BNPP
-
LCO
-
CL
-

* U.S. gasoline demand dips for the first time in 14 months

* Strong gasoline demand has helped support struggling crude

* Traders forced to store unwanted gasoline on tankers in Asia

* Storage glut could pull prices back to recent lows -BNP Paribas

* Production freeze would do little to address crude glut -FGE (Adds comment, detail, updates prices)

By Henning Gloystein

SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - Oil prices on Tuesday extended losses from the previous two sessions on weakening demand for gasoline and on concerns the global crude glut could persist for some time.

Front month U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were trading at $35.54 per barrel at 0454 GMT, down 16 cents from their last settlement.

International Brent futures LCOc1 were down 11 cents at $37.58 a barrel.

Both WTI and Brent extended their declines for a third session as investors doubted that producers will be able to rein in global overproduction that has seen crude prices tumble by as much as 70 percent since mid-2014.

Growth in gasoline use has been one of the strongest pillars supporting demand across the fuel complex in both North America and Asia, largely credited for preventing oil prices from tumbling even further than they have.

Tuesday's declines came after U.S. gasoline demand during January fell for the first time in 14 months, while overall U.S. oil demand fell 1 percent that month from a year ago. in Asia, traders have stored excess gasoline on tankers as onshore storage facilities in Singapore and Malaysia are filled to the rims, although some traders said this was only a temporary measure rather than a sign of a longer term gasoline glut for the region. say crude prices could fall lower again soon, though, as the emerging gasoline glut potentially adds to a global overhang in crude output that sees more than 1 million barrels of oil produced in excess of demand every day.

"Global oil balances will witness sizeable implied inventory builds in H1'16, suggesting that the price of oil can easily revisit the lows seen earlier this year," French bank BNP Paribas (PA:BNPP) said in a note to clients.

To address the crude overhang, major producers like Saudi Arabia and Russia have proposed a freeze in output at January levels, when both pumped at or near record levels, a move analysts have dismissed as ineffective.

"Only a feeble mind sees a freeze in production as good news. It is the worst news as it guarantees over-production and rising inventories," consultancy FGE said on Tuesday in its monthly oil report. Crude prices could see a downward correction to between $25 and $35 per barrel in the second quarter, FGE said.

Traders have increased their bets on more price falls to come, with the U.S.-based Schork Report saying that this week's trade data release showed "the first time speculative shorts rose, and net speculative longs fell, since the start of the (most recent price) rally in early February."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.