{"id":97084,"date":"2025-01-09T15:55:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T13:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ironfx-com-php8.wp-dev.int.theitops.net\/?p=97084"},"modified":"2025-01-09T15:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T13:55:18","slug":"oil-outlook-biden-and-trump-clash-over-drilling-permits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ironfxcn.com\/nl\/oil-outlook-biden-and-trump-clash-over-drilling-permits\/","title":{"rendered":"Oil Outlook: Biden and Trump clash over drilling permits"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oil prices appear to have moved higher<\/a> with the start of the New Year. Today we are to take a look at the recent executive order signed by Biden, the reduction of Saudi oil exports to China and finish of with the \u00a0data of the US oil market. For a rounder view, we are to conclude the report with a technical analysis of WTI\u2019s daily chart.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biden\u2019s last HOORAH for the climate activists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the 6th<\/sup> of January, president Biden<\/strong> signed an executive order which would withdraw certain areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from oil or Natural gas leasing<\/strong>. Essentially president Biden has announced an offshore oil and gas drilling ban for areas which are part of the Northen Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area amongst other parts. The outgoing president has used the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act<\/strong> which allows presidents to remove areas from mineral leasing and drilling but does not allow presidents the legal authority to overturn prior bans according to a 2019 court ruling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement<\/strong> may have sparked concern about potential limitations for the incoming administration which aims to increase energy production in the US as seen by Trump\u2019s moto of \u201cdrill baby drill<\/strong>\u201d. Moreover, the incoming president for his part has vowed to \u201crevoke the offshore oil, gas drilling ban in vast areas on day one\u201d, which may be slightly optimistic as it may require congressional approval in order to be overturned, implying that it cannot be \u2018undone\u2019 immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, President Trump<\/strong> has also stated per Reuters that his administration would open up oil and gas development in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge<\/strong> and may take the matter to court if necessary, per Reuters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, should President-elect Trump manage to quickly overturn President Biden\u2019s executive order, in addition to quickly granting oil drilling permits, it may imply that the US oil production levels could increase in the near future. In turn the implications of an increase in supply<\/strong>, could weigh on prices as production levels could exceed the current demand<\/strong> in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi oil exports to China to decrease<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Reuters<\/strong>, Saudi Arabia\u2019s crude oil supply to China <\/strong>is set to decline in February from the prior month. The report by Reuters stated that Saudi Aramco will ship about 43.5 million barrels to China in February which would be lower than last month\u2019s figure of 46 million barrels. The report by Reuters, tends to amplify our repeated concerns in regards to the Chinese economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have maintained the belief that the Chinese economy may continue facing hardships in 2025. Aiding our aforementioned hypothesis was the release of China\u2019s NBS and Caixin manufacturing PMI figures<\/strong> for December which were released last week and came in lower than expected. In particular, both figures are veering dangerously close to contraction territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, the implications of reduced oil demand from China, the world\u2019s largest imported, may be concerning for oil prices, as a continued reduction of demand from China, could lead to downwards pressures on oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The data of the US oil market<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Starting with the US oil market we note that the Baker Hughes<\/strong> indicator showed that the number of active oil rigs in the US was reduced by one to 482. The release signalled that the increase of active US oil rigs was halted, which could also be perceived as an indication a slack<\/strong> in oil demand<\/strong> in the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, this Tuesday the API weekly crude oil inventories figure was released showcasing a considerable drawdown of -4.022 million barrels in US oil inventories. The release implied a continued tightness of the US oil market for a fourth week in a row which may be perceived as bullish for oil prices as aggregated oil demand surpassed production levels once again. However, the EIA on Wednesday also reported a drawdown -0.959 million barrels, which was lower than the expected drawdown of -1.8 million barrels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lower-than-expected drawdown may imply that production levels may be meeting the current oil demand in the US and thus should they exceed demand levels, they could weigh on oil prices. Nonetheless, generally speaking the demand for oil in the US has once again surpassed oil production levels and thus may have aided oil prices during the week. However, should that narrative change in the coming week, it may have the opposite effect on oil prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oil Technical Analysis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WTI Cash Daily Chart<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Technical<\/figure>\n\n\n\n