WTI, Brent higher on summer fuel demand

Crude oil futures rose slightly on Monday as analysts see summer fuel demand pushing the market into a supply deficit in the coming weeks.

Goldman Sachs analysts said Brent should rise to $86 in the third quarter as summer transportation and cooling demand pushes the market into a “sizeable” deficit of 1.3 million barrels per day.

Here are today’s energy prices:

• West Texas Intermediate July contract: $76.38 a barrel, up 85 cents, or 1.1%. Year to date, U.S. has gained 6.6%
• Brent August contract: $80.44 a barrel, up 81 cents, or 1%. Year to date, the global benchmark is ahead 4.4%.
• RBOB Gasoline July contract: $2.39 per gallon, up 0.67%. Year to date, gasoline futures are up 14%.
• Natural Gas July contract: $3.09 per thousand cubic feet, up 5.96%. Year to date, gas is up 22.6%.

Oil prices posted a loss last week after OPEC+ agreed to increase production starting in October through September 2025.

OPEC+ can delay, pause or reverse its decision to raise production if needed to stabilize the oil market, Goldman analyst Daan Struyven told clients in a Sunday note.

Goldman sees a $75 floor for Brent as lower prices tend to promote demand, and a $90 ceiling due to higher than expected global inventories and the OPEC+ production decision.

Long positions, or bets that futures prices will rise, are at the lowest level since 2011, while short positions are close to record highs, according to an analysis by UBS.

“We think this is overly pessimistic,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Inventories should start falling in the coming weeks and demand should increase by 2 million bpd to 2.5 million bpd through August.

Traders are looking ahead to the Federal Reserve meeting and inflation data Wednesday, as well as oil market reports from OPEC and the International Energy Agency on Tuesday and Wednesday.