Chart Of The Day: How To Navigate Oil's Complex Market Drivers

 | Jun 28, 2022 21:29

The oil market is in disarray as numerous themes collide.

The Energy Information Administration enters a second week of failing to provide data due to a system failure, when information is critical. US refining capacity drops below 18 million barrels daily, its lowest since 2014. This limited production comes amid refinery closures, just as catapulted prices could use more output to ease surging inflation.

China is easing its COVID restrictions, which means the second-largest economy and the world's foremost importer will increase demand.

Libya is suffering from production disruptions amid an escalating political crisis, and protests in Ecuador could stop the production of this former OPEC member.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are unlikely to be able to increase output significantly enough to lower prices with these producing countries out of the mix.

This market failure is prompting G7 leaders, notably French President Emmanuel Macron, to seek to cap prices worldwide. This move could be dangerous as it could exacerbate shortages, which could cause the market to implode.

We witnessed how sensitive the oil market can be in 2020, when contracts fell into negative territory and traders had to pay $40 for the pleasure of owning a barrel of oil. 

Let's examine the current price chart.