West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Oil trades around $87.10 per barrel on Monday, gaining 3.80% on the day at the time of writing, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East revive concerns about global supply disruptions.
The rebound follows a sharp recovery from Friday’s low near $78.89, after developments over the weekend cast doubt on the future of the peace process between Washington and Tehran. Oil prices had previously dropped significantly after the announcement of a ceasefire earlier this month, but have since regained ground as the situation becomes more uncertain.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated on Monday that Tehran has no intention of participating in the second round of negotiations scheduled in Pakistan on Tuesday. According to Baghaei, the decision follows what he described as “aggressive acts” by the United States (US) and a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
These remarks come after the United States reportedly intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday as part of its maritime blockade. Iranian authorities have vowed retaliation, while state media suggested that Iran could withdraw entirely from the diplomatic process if the blockade remains in place.
The renewed tensions have revived concerns about potential disruptions to shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical Oil transit chokepoints. Any restriction of flows through the strait could significantly tighten global supply and push prices higher.
Despite the rebound, WTI Oil remains well below the levels seen earlier this month, when prices traded around $106.50. The Crude Oil also remains below the nearly five-year high of $113.28 reached in March during the early phase of the war.
For now, investors appear to be balancing the risk of further escalation against the possibility that negotiations could resume in the coming days, a dynamic that continues to keep Oil prices volatile.
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
