WTI remains subdued around $66.50 amid Russian supply prospects
- WTI price declines as Trump and Putin agree to a halt in strikes on energy infrastructure amid the Ukraine war.
- API Weekly Crude Oil Stock rose by 4.593 million barrels in the previous week.
- Escalating violence in the Middle East raises concerns over potential supply disruptions in key Oil-producing regions.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price remains under pressure for the second consecutive day, trading around $66.50 per barrel during Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The downward trend is driven by expectations of increased Russian supply.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to an immediate pause in strikes on energy infrastructure amid the Ukraine war. However, Putin declined to support a broader, month-long ceasefire negotiated by Trump’s team with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, indicating persistent tensions despite the temporary agreement on energy-related attacks.
As one of the world’s largest Oil producers, Russia has seen its output decline since the war began, largely due to Western sanctions. A potential ceasefire could lead to an easing of these sanctions, potentially increasing Oil supply and further pressuring prices.
Meanwhile, data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday showed a mixed picture for US crude inventories. Crude Oil stockpiles rose by 4.593 million barrels for the week ending March 14, while gasoline inventories declined by 1.71 million barrels and distillate stocks dropped by 2.15 million barrels.
However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to support Oil prices to some extent. Heightened violence threatens supply disruptions in key oil-producing regions. Trump reaffirmed his administration's commitment to military action against Yemen’s Houthis and warned that Iran would be held accountable for any further attacks disrupting Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which ended a week-long ceasefire, resulted in at least 200 casualties, according to Palestinian health authorities, reported by Reuters.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
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