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Distillate futures see huge outflow of speculative cash: Kemp

Portfolio investors have continued to realise revenues on previously bullish diesel positions and started to turn bearish as products adjust to the disturbance of trade through the Red Sea and a blended industrial outlook.

Hedge funds and other money supervisors sold the equivalent of 26 million barrels in the six essential petroleum-related futures and options agreements over the 7 days ending on March 26.

Sales came after fund managers purchased 140 million barrels the week in the past, among the biggest increases in the last decade, according to place reports submitted with exchanges and regulators.

However nearly all the latest week's sales were in middle distillates (-24 million barrels), both U.S. diesel (-8 million). and European gas oil (-17 million).

There were just minor adjustments in other places in NYMEX and ICE. WTI (-5 million barrels), Brent (+1 million) and U.S. gasoline. ( +3 million).

As a result, the combined extracts position was decreased. to 49 million barrels (43rd percentile for all weeks given that. 2013), down from a recent peak of 87 million (72nd percentile). on Feb. 13.

Chartbook: Oil and gas positions

The reduction in distillate positions has actually accompanied a. substantial softening of gas oil and diesel costs compared with. petroleum.

The premium for European gas oil over Brent crude had shrunk. to roughly $168 per tonne on March 26, down from a recent peak. of $274 on Feb. 9.

The premium for U.S. ultra-low sulphur diesel over U.S. crude had actually fallen to $28 per barrel from $48 over the exact same. period.

In spite of attacks on tankers in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. that required the re-routing of diesel trade there has actually been no. discernible tightening up of materials.

U.S. diesel inventories were about 14 million barrels (-10%. or -0.86 standard discrepancies) below the prior ten-year seasonal. average on March 22.

But the deficit has not intensified considerably from 11. million barrels (-8% or -0.76 basic discrepancies) at the start. of 2024.

The market has gotten used to the longer routes for diesel. shipments and the impact of Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia's. refineries.

In the meantime, the outlook for a cyclical commercial. healing in the major economies to enhance diesel usage and. costs has remained mixed.

Global freight flows appear to be strengthening after a long. Shallow decline between the middle of 2022 and the middle. of 2023.

Production in the United States and China also shows. indications of increasing, but Europe's industrial companies have. had a hard time to emerge decisively from economic crisis.

Persistent inflation in the services sector has actually forced. central banks to hold off expected interest rate cuts up until. the middle of the year or later.

In consequence, the expected tightening up of extract. inventories has actually been pressed back and caused numerous fund managers. to be more cautious in the short-term.

U.S. GAS

Financiers made few modifications to gas positions for the third. week running, after an earlier purchasing rise in late February and. the start of March occasioned by the announcement of production. and drilling cuts blew over.

Hedge funds and other money supervisors had actually lowered their internet. brief position to 431 billion cubic feet (bcf) (20th percentile. for all weeks since 2010) on March 26 from 1,675 bcf (3rd. percentile) on Feb. 20.

In real terms, prices remain only a little above the. multi-decade lows struck in mid-February. Reported drilling and. output cuts should put a flooring below them and the balance of. threats is slanted to the benefit in the medium term.

However working gas stocks were still 656 bcf (+40% or +1.44. standard discrepancies) above the prior ten-year seasonal average. on March 22 and it will require time erode the bloated stocks.

Associated columns:

- Worldwide freight acceleration will raise fuel rates (March. 27, 2024)

- Oil market saw frenzy of hedge fund buying (March 25,. 2024)

- Hedge fund optimism about diesel lessens away (March 18,. 2024)

John Kemp is a market expert. The views expressed. are his own. Follow his commentary on X https://twitter.com/JKempEnergy.

(source: Reuters)