Crude Rally Continues On EIA Drawdown

By Orbex

Inventories Fall Again

Crude prices have continued higher this week. The market extended its 2021 gains by a further 4%.

Crude prices were helped higher this week by the latest report from the Energy Information Administration.

The EIA reported that in the week ending January 8^th, the total level of US crude inventories decreased by a further 3.2 million barrels. This marks the third consecutive weekly decline in crude levels.

It also takes stockpiles back down to 482.2 million barrels, just 8% above their five-year seasonal average.

Gasoline & Distillate Stockpiles Higher

Despite the decrease in the headline crude level, the report showed that gasoline inventories were higher by 4.4 million barrels over the week, extending the surplus recorded over recent weeks.

Gasoline inventories are now sitting around 1% above their five-year seasonal average. Distillate stockpiles were also higher over the week.

These increased by 4.8 million barrels to take the total inventories level back up to around 9% higher than their five-year seasonal average.

Elsewhere, the report showed that US crude oil imports averaged 6.2 million barrels per day over the week, an uptick of just under 1 million barrels per day.

Looking back across the last four weeks, US crude oil imports have averaged 5.6 million barrels per day. This is 14.9% lower than the same four week period a year earlier.

USD Rally a Threat

The resurgence in the US dollar over recent days has taken some of the steam out of the rally in crude prices.

However, with traders looking ahead to the prospects of increased US fiscal stimulus, the greenback looks vulnerable to further downside.

This should keep oil prices supported in the near term.

Two Way Risks From COVID

The COVID backdrop is also a key issue for oil traders.

Currently, the market is caught between two things:

1. The sharp, near-term risks from ongoing lockdowns and travel restrictions, which threaten demand, and
2. Optimism linked to the vaccine program and the hopes that developed economies will begin returning to normal in Q2.

Crude Approaching Key Resistance Area

The rally in crude, which has now blown well above the recent 49.30 level, is now fast approaching key technical resistance.

The 54.48 level above the market comes in just ahead of the bearish trend line from 2018 highs, with the longer-term bearish trend line from 2014 highs just above that.

This is likely to be a difficult area for bulls and some correction lower is likely. While price holds above the 49.30 support, however, the bias remains bullish.

By Orbex