MA(9): $63.19
MA(20): $64.94
MACD: -0.9452
Signal: -0.8853
Days since crossover: 14
Value: 44.84
Category: NEUTRAL
Current: 250,166
Avg (20d): 266,792
Ratio: 0.94
%K: 35.76
%D: 26.54
ADX: 16.96
+DI: 14.85
-DI: 19.96
Value: -64.24
Upper: 69.55
Middle: 64.94
Lower: 60.33
| Category | Current (BCFD) | Last Week | Last Year | 3 Yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Production (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 13382.0 | 13327.0 | 13300.0 | 12733.33 |
| Crude Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 6497.0 | 6920.0 | 6285.0 | 6585.33 |
| Crude Exports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 4372.0 | 3577.0 | 3756.0 | 4160.0 |
| Refinery Inputs (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 17208.0 | 17180.0 | 16467.0 | 16573.33 |
| Net Imports (Thousand Barrels a Day) | 2125.0 | 3343.0 | 2529.0 | 2425.33 |
| Commercial Crude Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 420684.0 | 426698.0 | 430678.0 | 427076.33 |
| Crude & Products Total Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 1666537.0 | 1670549.0 | 1663659.0 | 1645789.33 |
| Gasoline Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 223570.0 | 226290.0 | 222203.0 | 217956.67 |
| Distillate Stocks (Thousand Barrels) | 116028.0 | 113685.0 | 126123.0 | 117031.0 |
Brent crude (OCT 25) settled at $67.73, change $+0.06. WTI crude (OCT 25) settled at $63.66, change $+0.14. The Brent-WTI spread is currently $4.07 (Brent premium of $4.07). The Brent-WTI spread reflects differences in global vs. U.S. supply/demand dynamics, geopolitics, and transportation costs.
OPEC expresses a cautious optimism regarding the market outlook, despite recent fluctuations in oil prices and global economic growth forecasts.
| Metric | Value/Forecast | Source/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| World Oil Demand Growth (2025) | 1.3 mb/d | Unchanged from last month’s assessment |
| World Oil Demand Growth (2026) | 1.3 mb/d | Unchanged from last month’s assessment |
| Non-OPEC Liquids Supply Growth (2025) | 0.8 mb/d | Revised down by 0.1 mb/d |
| Non-OPEC Liquids Supply Growth (2026) | 0.8 mb/d | Revised down by 0.1 mb/d |
| Call on OPEC Crude (2025) | 42.6 mb/d | Revised upward by 0.1 mb/d |
| Call on OPEC Crude (2026) | 42.9 mb/d | Revised upward by 0.1 mb/d |
| OECD Commercial Stock Deviation | 173 mb below 2015–2019 average | As of March |
| Crude Oil Production (April) | 40.92 mb/d | Decrease of 106 tb/d m-o-m |
OPEC remains committed to ensuring market stability through its production agreements, while closely monitoring global economic indicators and oil demand trends. The organization anticipates that ongoing adjustments in supply and demand dynamics will play a crucial role in shaping future market conditions.
"The front end of the ICE Brent, NYMEX WTI and GME Oman forward curves strengthened further in April, reflecting traders’ optimism about the market outlook in the short-term."
"Demand for DoC crude is revised upward, indicating a positive shift in market expectations."
CFTC Commitment of Traders Report (Disaggregated) as of 2025-08-19
Crude Oil Positioning (WTI-PHYSICAL - NYMEX):
Open Interest: 1,922,821 contracts (-88,138)
Managed Money Net Position: 27,445 contracts (1.4% of OI)
Weekly Change in Managed Money Net: -21,420 contracts
Producer/Merchant Net Position: 297,794 contracts
Swap Dealer Net Position: -438,348 contracts
Market Sentiment (based on Managed Money): Bullish but Weakening
Positioning Analysis (Managed Money): Normal Range
Key Takeaways:
- Managed Money traders are large speculators, often driving price trends in Crude Oil.
- Producer/Merchant positions primarily reflect hedging activity.
- Swap Dealers act as intermediaries.
- Extreme positioning by Managed Money can indicate potential market reversals.
- CFTC data reports positions as of the report date, usually released each Friday.
About Disaggregated CoT Reports:
The Disaggregated CoT report provides a more detailed breakdown of futures market open interest.
It categorizes traders into: Producer/Merchant/Processor/User (Commercials), Swap Dealers, Managed Money (Speculators), and Other Reportables.
| Date | Prediction | Lower Bound | Upper Bound |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-23 | $63.63 | $61.68 | $65.58 |
| 2025-08-24 | $63.67 | $61.71 | $65.62 |
| 2025-08-25 | $63.61 | $61.66 | $65.56 |
| 2025-08-26 | $63.59 | $61.64 | $65.54 |
| 2025-08-27 | $63.58 | $61.63 | $65.54 |
The recent decline in Crude Oil prices across major benchmarks, with the OPEC Reference Basket averaging $68.98/b, indicates a potential for continued volatility. The Brent-WTI spread at $4.07 reflects ongoing disparities in supply dynamics, suggesting traders should monitor geopolitical developments closely.
The short-term bullish sentiment is supported by backwardation in the forward curves, but the weakening managed money positioning (-21,420 contracts) could signal caution. Key support levels to watch include Fibonacci retracement levels around $62 for WTI and $66 for Brent.
With the current inventory levels showing a slight increase in OECD commercial crude stocks, producers may need to adjust their production planning and hedging strategies accordingly. The decline in crude prices could impact revenue forecasts, necessitating a review of operational costs.
The upward revision in demand for DoC crude to 42.6 mb/d in 2025 provides a positive outlook, yet producers should remain vigilant of the global economic growth forecasts, particularly in the US and Eurozone, which could influence demand dynamics.
The recent fluctuations in crude prices, with WTI settling at $63.66 and Brent at $67.73, suggest potential input cost fluctuations for refineries and transportation sectors. Consumers should prepare for procurement strategies that account for possible price increases due to tightening inventories.
The reduction in US crude imports and the decline in product imports could pose supply reliability risks, especially if geopolitical tensions escalate. Monitoring inventory levels and international supply chain dynamics will be critical for ensuring stable operations.
The Crude Oil market is currently experiencing a mixed sentiment, with a overall market sentiment score of +0.700 indicating optimism despite the recent price declines. The fundamental outlook remains robust, particularly with non-OECD demand projected to grow significantly.
Analysts should focus on the weakening managed money positions and the implications of OPEC's production adjustments on future price stability. The convergence of technical indicators and fundamental data suggests that while there are bullish signals, caution is warranted given the economic headwinds facing major markets.