Heating Oil Declines as Tariff Delay Eases Costs
US heating oil futures fell to $2.40 per gallon in February, a near one-month low, as the delay of U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico eased concerns over supply disruptions, making crude oil feedstocks more affordable. Earlier, distillate fuel prices had risen amid fears of strained refinery capacity due to limited availability of light sweet crude in the U.S., constraining domestic supply. Additionally, unseasonably warm temperatures in key heating oil-consuming regions like the Midwest and Northeast have reduced demand, easing concerns over winter shortages. While a forecasted winter storm may bring snow to parts of the Southwest, Plains, and Southeast, the absence of prolonged Arctic air limits the likelihood of sustained cold spells. Strong renewable energy generation in Europe has also lessened reliance on heating oil for power.