Heating Oil Halts Major Rally
US heating oil futures eased to $3.23 per gallon, holding near September 2023 highs after massive domestic inventory builds partially offset geopolitical disruptions. Data from the EIA revealed a surprise 0.4 million-barrel increase in distillate stocks for the week ended February 27th, defying expectations of a 2.6 million-barrel draw. This surplus developed despite a 70% collapse in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following the start of Operation "Epic Fury." While the IRGC claims full control of the strategic waterway and has threatened to "set ablaze" any transiting vessels, the market’s immediate supply fears have been tempered by President Trump’s instruction for the DFC to provide political risk insurance for tankers. Furthermore, US crude inventories surged by 3.5 million barrels to 439.3 million, significantly exceeding forecasts and providing a substantial buffer against the risk of a broader energy shock.