Global supply issues could drive U.S. gas prices higher as soon as this week
BOISE – (September 16, 2019) – Over the weekend, two major oil facilities in Saudi Arabia were attacked in a series of coordinated drone strikes, removing 5.7 million barrels of crude oil production per day from the market, or about six percent of global production.
In response, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) benchmark for crude oil has already surged by nearly six dollars per barrel today amid the belief that Saudi Arabia’s production could be impacted for weeks or even months, shrinking the world supply. Crude oil prices make up 50 percent or more of gasoline prices.
“Here in Idaho, we’ve enjoyed falling gas prices since Memorial Day, and we expected that trend to continue throughout the fall,” says AAA Idaho spokesman Matthew Conde. “But these attacks throw all of our previous projections into doubt. It’s likely that U.S. gas prices will start climbing as soon as this week, and they could increase by a quarter or so in the weeks ahead.”
Today, the WTI is trading at $61 per barrel, up from $55/bbl to close the week. It hasn’t been that high since late May, when fears over global oversupply caused prices to slide during the summer months. The international glut of crude oil is now expected to shrink substantially, depending on how long it takes Saudi Arabia to get its facilities back online.
The current U.S. price for regular is $2.56, which is seven cents less than a month ago and 29 cents less than a year ago. In the Gem State, a gallon of gas costs $2.76, which is a dime cheaper than a month ago and a whopping 45 cents less than a year ago.
A market on the move
“A lot of moving parts go into the price of oil and finished gasoline, so whenever a lever is thrown in dramatic fashion, the market can become extremely volatile, especially in the short term,” Conde said. “If there’s any kind of silver lining, we have a long way to go before we come anywhere close to what we were paying last year for fuel in Idaho.”
Several other factors could affect pump prices, including here in Idaho, in the coming weeks:
Global emergency reserves
President Trump has authorized the release of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to offset fears about rising prices. Other nations have similar emergency stockpiles, which could dampen the impact of losing Saudi Arabia’s production.
The U.S. is importing the least amount of crude oil from Saudi this decade, about 18,000 bbl/day compared to nearly 36,000 bbl/day in early 2017. But as other nations remain dependent on Saudi Arabian supplies, it will have a ripple effect across the globe.
Falling demand and winter-blend fuel
In a typical year, demand for gasoline drops during the fall, which helps reduce the pressure on available fuel inventories. In the Rockies region, stocks remain strong at nearly 7.4 million barrels, and refineries are currently making the switch to winter-blend gas, which is cheaper to produce. However, if crude oil prices remain high, the replacement cost will eventually follow.
Refineries start seasonal maintenance
When refineries make the switch to winter-blend fuel production, they usually go offline on a rotating basis to perform seasonal maintenance. Timing is critical, because refinery utilization rates help determine the available supply. In the Rockies region, utilization recently fell from 102% to 94%, which will further reduce gasoline stocks and apply upward pressure on gas prices.
Hurricane season
The National Weather Service predicts a busier-than-usual hurricane season. If a hurricane makes landfall or impacts domestic oil production in the Gulf Coast or on the Eastern seaboard, it would place a significant strain on pump prices.
US/China trade conflict may come to an end
On one hand, improved trade relations between the two nations will stimulate the global economy. On the other hand, an improved economy will lead to greater demand for petroleum products, which could apply upward pressure on gas prices.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that there won’t be any other issues, and that the Saudi Arabian facilities will be repaired soon,” Conde said. But in the meantime, AAA will continue to closely monitor market activity. In the next month or so, we could be in for a bumpy ride.”