Crude oil and condensate exports from the Persian Gulf rose to pre-war levels in the first half of July, data from Kpler and Vortexa shows, as cited by Reuters, reaching between 12 and 13.6 million barrels daily. The recovery is unlikely to last, however, as traffic via the Strait of Hormuz once again slows to a trickle amid the renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran. Oil and condensate flows out of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait rose by 16% from June over the first two weeks of this month, the data showed. Kpler…
Market Context
Global crude oil markets remain sensitive to a combination of macroeconomic signals, OPEC+ production policy, and geopolitical developments across key producing regions. Brent crude and WTI serve as the primary price benchmarks, with spread movements reflecting regional supply-demand imbalances and refinery demand shifts.
Energy traders and analysts closely monitor inventory data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which releases weekly petroleum status reports that frequently move markets. Rising inventories typically signal demand weakness or oversupply, while draws support price recovery.
What to Watch
Analysts and traders will be watching upcoming EIA inventory reports, OPEC+ output decisions, and macroeconomic indicators — particularly U.S. Federal Reserve policy signals and China demand data — for directional cues on crude prices in the near term.
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