Heating Oil Surges Amid Supply Concerns
U.S. heating oil futures surged above $2.46 per gallon in January, reaching a five-month high, driven by a confluence of tightening supply conditions and rising oil prices. The market's concerns were heightened by the prospect of new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, which could target key vessels, companies, and executives, potentially disrupting global supply chains and exacerbating market tightness. Compounding these fears, U.S. crude inventories fell for the seventh consecutive week, while Russian seaborne exports dropped to their lowest level since August 2023. The onset of colder weather further fueled heating demand, with the EIA reporting a significant 632,000-barrel decline in heating oil stockpiles for the week ending January 3rd.