Crude Oil has officially posted its sixth consecutive weekly gain, marking the longest streak since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. The price of WTI crude oil reached over USD 82 per barrel, its highest level since April 2023.

These recent crude oil price fluctuations might spark a global energy war.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict shook the foundation of the global economy and had an immense impact on key geopolitical ties. For eighty years, Saudi Arabia had a bargain with the U.S., promising a reliable supply of oil to the Americans in exchange for U.S. security against any potential threats. Today, this nearly century-old alliance is facing an extraordinary test.

While the U.S. Federal Reserve celebrates its success in reducing inflation, the recent surge in Crude Oil prices is telling us a whole different story.

Is inflation coming back? How will the Fed respond if oil prices keep on rising? 

In this article, we will explore and understand the underlying factors of this sudden increase in oil prices. Additionally, we will analyze how investors can potentially benefit from this volatility, while being mindful of the potential risks that lie ahead.

U.S. Oil Inventory Lowest Since 1985 

The war in Ukraine has disrupted global energy markets, and ever since then the United States has been looking to Saudi Arabia to help stabilize prices and reduce inflation. However, Saudi Arabia has been reluctant to increase production to maintain a competitive edge in the market share race with Russia (Russia: 11%, Saudi Arabia 12%) and to benefit from the potential advantages of higher oil prices. Higher prices could be crucial for funding their ambitions futuristic megacity project known as ‘Neom’. 

In the most recent OPEC+ meeting, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has voluntary extended its oil cut by one million barrels per day, hinting the possibility of deeper cuts in future meetings. This stance could escalate tensions between the two countries, after 78 years of a bilateral contract. Will Saudi Arabia and the U.S. be able to maintain their alliance in the long-term? 

U.S. oil reserves are now at their lowest level since 1985. The decline of U.S. reserves over the last 2 years is faster than any time in history. On August 1st, the U.S. announced that it would once again postpone refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) due to “market conditions and higher prices”.  

The Biden Administration has had massive withdrawals from the SPR. Over 221 million barrels were withdrawn from the reserve in 2022 alone in response to inflation and geopolitical conflicts. The SPR now holds 346 million barrels of crude oil, its lowest level since 1983. 

OPEC+ Vs U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve 

In October 2022, the Biden administration announced its intent to refill the SPR. A statement said they plan to make purchases when oil prices are “at or below USD 67 to USD 72 per barrel.” However, every single time oil prices have hit that level this year, OPEC has taken action. Currently, we are around 20% above that level as oil prices are now nearing their yearly highs.  

On June 9th, the U.S. refilled 6 million barrels of the SPR, still well below the 250 million+ that have been drained. At the time, oil prices were right around USD 70 which is in the price zone that the U.S. wants to refill the SPR. 

Promptly thereafter, the Saudi Arabia and Russia extended recent crude oil production cuts. This is not the first time that OPEC has taken action when oil prices hit the USD 67 to USD 72 zone this year. Could this be only a coincidence? 

Every single time oil prices fell to USD 67-72, where the U.S. wants to fill the SPR, OPEC has cut oil production. Most recently, on July 3rd Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to voluntarily extend production cuts, triggering this recent 20% rally in oil prices. This news does not bode well for the U.S. as they can no longer fill the reserve at their desired prices. 

The Strategic Petroleum Reserves are being depleted day by day. Higher oil prices have been a major contributor to inflation which the Federal Reserve and U.S. government have been fighting for 2 years now. If OPEC+ and Russia continue to reduce oil production, it will push inventories lower and demand will likely increase, which could send oil prices much higher towards USD 90-100 by the end of this year. 

Clearly, refilling the SPR is incredibly important for the U.S. and Crude oil reserves are a strategic asset that they need. For now, the energy war is here to stay as energy resources are being weaponized. 

Rising Oil Prices: Is Inflation Coming Back? 

The decline in gasoline prices over the past year had played a pivotal role in reducing the overall inflation and triggering a strong stock market rally. However, persistent higher oil prices could force the Fed to stay hawkish and not cut rates as the market might hope.  

Once again, the Federal Reserve finds itself in a difficult spot. On one hand, they have OPEC+ and Russia reducing oil production, and on the other hand, raising rates could weigh down the economy further, potentially increasing the odds of a recession by triggering a deflationary cycle.  

But that’s not the only bad news for the Fed. 

J.P. Morgan, in its turn, outlined a few reasons for hedging against a ‘Black Swan’ event, pointing to the potential for oil and commodity prices to unexpectedly spike and trigger an inflation shock in the market.

Investors need to stay vigilant, and the Federal Reserve will need to carefully weigh these factors before making a decision about interest rates in the coming months. 

What’s Next For WTI Crude Oil? 

To sum up, the recent surge in oil prices is a sign of the changing geopolitical landscape and the potential for higher inflation in the coming months. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are facing an extraordinary test of their alliance, and the Fed is in a difficult spot as it tries to balance the need to increase rates to combat inflation with the risk of triggering a recession. Investors should be mindful of the potential risks and volatility in the oil market, but there are also opportunities to potentially profit from the current situation. 

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