Good afternoon,

After another run up on WTI price this week, the rally has taken pause to wait on the results of the G-20 meeting this weekend and OPEC next week.  WTI has reached $59/barrel after a massive draw down in crude supplies here in the US.  In addition, most traders are expected to see OPEC continue with supply cuts.  The US announced that China has agreed to terms on a trade deal and the details will be released soon.  All of this news is holding WTI at current levels.  For now, markets are taking pause and a “wait and see” approach is currently in place.

Local gasoline prices have continued to rise and will probably continue into the week of the 4th.  Diesel prices have climbed as well.  Prices at the pump will hold until the world meetings next week are completed.

Propane prices are continuing to stay low!  Please contact us now for a summer fill.  Also, contract prices for next heating season will be released next week.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to give us a call.

Best regards,

Jon Crawford – Pres.

Good morning,

I hope everyone had a great week.  Unfortunately, two major events happened this week that caused the price of crude oil to skyrocket.  Iran shot down a US drone plane on Thursday.  The response from Trump went from anywhere including retaliation to maybe it was just a mistake from someone in Iran.  The geopolitical tensions between the two countries put the risk premium on full alert and traders bought in.  The other main event was the FED announcement that rate decreases are back on the table.  A rate decrease devalues the US Dollar and increases the price of crude.  On the supply/demand side, crude stocks decreased over the past week more than expected and a refinery in Philadelphia suffered a large explosion forcing a shutdown.  The refinery in Philadelphia is the largest on the East Coast and puts tremendous pressure on other East Coast refineries to fill the gap because no products from the robust Midwest have direct pipeline access to the East Coast.  Hopefully supplies from the South will be able to be shipped, but it takes time.  For now, we will wait and see.  But the geopolitical and FED announcement just moved the floor on WTI to $55/barrel and put a stop to falling prices at the pump.

In local retail news, I would not expect to see the price of gasoline fall below $2.49/gallon at the pump.  I also think diesel prices will stay in the $2.79/gallon range.  With what happened this week, the sell off on refined products came to a screeching halt.

Although crude prices have risen dramatically, propane prices have only risen a bit.  We are still at the lowest retail price in five years and we recommend everyone filling their tanks now.  With a record amount of propane in inventory, spot prices will continue to be very low compared to forwards contracts.  Once the glut starts to decrease, we will see spot prices rise.  I expect that to happen in October, as we prepare for a potential record breaking corn drying year.  Contracts for next season will be released in the next week or so.  Stay tuned for more info.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to give us a call.

Best regards,

Jon Crawford

Good morning,

Well, the price floor carved out last week on WTI gave way under the announcement for tariffs in Mexico, coupled with a dramatic increase in US crude inventories this week.  Much of the increase in inventories is being blamed on demand erosion in the Midwest from flooding.  Farmers are almost 50% behind in most parts of the Midwest which greatly affects demand.  Others are chatting that the EIA has reported false inventory numbers.  Regardless, WTI Crude broke through the $52/barrel technical mark and fell to $50/barrel for a brief moment.  The massive dive in crude prices has caused OPEC to up the talk around extending or increasing production cuts through the end of 2019.  In addition, the trade war with China continues to spook traders on potential economic erosion in China and possible recession in the US.  So then the FED announced this week that potentially a rate cut is on the table.  The chatter from OPEC as well as discussion of a FED rate decrease is putting upward pressure on crude prices and possibly carving out a floor for now.  I do believe that we have experienced a bottom in prices until the OPEC meeting on June 26th and 27th.  So for now, sit back and watch as prices at the pump slowly come down!

In local retail news, gasoline and diesel prices are starting to slowly come down.  I expect to see the downward trend continue into next week.

Propane prices have also stayed very, very low.  We are now at the lowest price in almost five years.  I recommend that everyone fill their tanks as soon as they can to take advantage of the current market condition.  Contracts for next season will be out the first part of the July and will be lower priced than last year!  It’s always nice when we can announce good news. 🙂

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to give us a call.

Best regards,

Jon Crawford