Welcome to the Fuel Matters Blog

Nearly one month ago, U.S. oil futures hit a historic moment, dropping below zero for the first time. At that time traders were scrambling to pay buyers to take off crude futures, while month end rolls were looming. This morning, U.S. oil futures climbed roughly 9% to $32 a barrel, a price that would allow some of the lowest cost oil wells in the United States to break even. Oil prices are roughly half of what they were to start the year, but the slight uptick in driving across America, has helped rally the oil prices. Currently, 87E10 gasoline pump prices are at an average of $1.88 a gallon in the U.S., about $0.98 less than last year.

Last week, President Trump, announced the COVID-19 treatments and vaccines are on a “fast track” for development.  But what does that mean?  What is a typical timeline for development and what are the steps that needs followed in order to produce a successful vaccination or treatment?

The narrative today is that we are facing a global pandemic due to the coronavirus outbreak. It's absolutely crushing equity and oil markets with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 980 points and WTI crude oil down $2.75/barrel – and it could get worse.

The events over the weekend in Saudi Arabia are causing concerns throughout the nation.  The oil installations attacked resulted in the removal of six percent of daily world consumption, which will have an impact on motorists and consumers in the United States as early as today.  The attack on Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq plant in Buqyaq and the Khurais oil field is the biggest disruption to Saudi Arabia’s oil industry since the early 1990’s.  The pain consumers may feel center around how long it takes normal output from the world’s second-largest oil producer to return.

Oil prices rose Tuesday to two week highs as traders prepare for tomorrow’s forecasted cut in interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve and a crude oil draw in the Department of Energy weekly inventory report.