WTI remains subdued around $66.50 amid Russian supply prospects

WTI price declines as Trump and Putin agree to a halt in strikes on energy infrastructure amid the Ukraine war.
API Weekly Crude Oil Stock rose by 4.593 million barrels in the previous week.
Escalating violence in the Middle East raises concerns over potential supply disruptions in key Oil-producing regions.

Akhtar Faruqui FXStreet

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil price remains under pressure for the second consecutive day, trading around $66.50 per barrel during Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The downward trend is driven by expectations of increased Russian supply.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to an immediate pause in strikes on energy infrastructure amid the Ukraine war. However, Putin declined to support a broader, month-long ceasefire negotiated by Trump’s team with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, indicating persistent tensions despite the temporary agreement on energy-related attacks.

As one of the world’s largest Oil producers, Russia has seen its output decline since the war began, largely due to Western sanctions. A potential ceasefire could lead to an easing of these sanctions, potentially increasing Oil supply and further pressuring prices.

Meanwhile, data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday showed a mixed picture for US crude inventories. Crude Oil stockpiles rose by 4.593 million barrels for the week ending March 14, while gasoline inventories declined by 1.71 million barrels and distillate stocks dropped by 2.15 million barrels.

However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to support Oil prices to some extent. Heightened violence threatens supply disruptions in key oil-producing regions. Trump reaffirmed his administration's commitment to military action against Yemen’s Houthis and warned that Iran would be held accountable for any further attacks disrupting Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which ended a week-long ceasefire, resulted in at least 200 casualties, according to Palestinian health authorities, reported by Reuters.

WTI Oil FAQs

What is WTI Oil?

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.

What factors drive the price of WTI Oil?

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.

How does inventory data impact the price of WTI Oil

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.

How does OPEC influence the price of WTI Oil?

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.

Author

Akhtar Faruqui

FXStreet

Akhtar Faruqui is a Forex Analyst based in New Delhi, India. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for dissecting complex financial dynamics, he is dedicated to delivering accurate and insightful Forex news and analysis.

AUD/USD remains above 0.7200 after China's trade data

AUD/USD sits above 0.7200 in the Asian session on Tuesday, near its highest level since May 14. The US Dollar stays under pressure as a rallying Japanese Yen outweighs support from hawkish Fed bets and geopolitical tensions. This, along with firming expectations for another RBA rate hike later this month, acts as a tailwind for the Aussie. However, mixed China trade balance data keep the pair restricted.

USD/JPY stabilizes at around 154.00 as markets assess BoJ outlook

USD/JPY fluctuates at around 154.00 in the American session on Tuesday after rebounding from the six-month low it touched below 153.00 earlier in the day. Nevertheless, the upside attempts resemble technical corrections for now as Japan's upbeat wage growth data and Q2 GDP revision cement bets on a BoJ rate hike next week and continue to support the Japanese Yen.

Gold reverses early gains as US Dollar rebounds, Oil prices rise

Gold (XAU/USD) struggles to hold early gains and reverses course on Tuesday as a modest rebound in the US Dollar (USD) and rising Oil prices weigh on the precious metal. At the time of writing, XAU/USD trades around $4,400 after reaching an intraday high near $4,443.

Ripple and Stellar outlook: Hold bullish bias above EMAs as derivatives back upside

Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) hold above the key support zones on Tuesday, hinting at an upside move. Derivatives metrics further support the recovery, with both altcoins showing positive funding rates and rising long positions. Derivatives data shows a bullish tilt among XRP and XLM traders.

Europe in focus: September 2026

Six major net contributors demanded substantial cuts to the European Commission’s proposed 2028–2034 EU budget. Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden issued a joint position on 27 August calling for the nearly €2 trillion proposal to be reduced by several hundred billion euros and rejecting additional common EU borrowing.

Diesel’s record $100 warning: The oil shock hiding in plain sight

The Oil market may look calmer than it did a few months ago, but diesel is sending a very different message. The US diesel crack spread, the premium of ultra-low sulphur diesel futures over WTI, recently surged above $100 per barrel for the first time, reaching an intraday record of just over $102.00.