Oil News: Crude Oil Futures Sink as Contango Signals Bearish Oil Outlook

Oil Prices Forecast Slips as Contango Structure Flags Supply Glut Concerns

Light crude oil futures edged lower at mid-session Monday, tracking toward a multi-month low at $55.27. While some dip buyers emerged, downside momentum remains intact as traders weigh a worsening supply outlook and rising macroeconomic uncertainty.

At 16:06 GMT, Light Crude Oil Futures are trading $56.44, down $0.71 or 1.24%.

The market’s technical tone remains fragile. Price action suggests aggressive buyers are attempting to defend key levels, but failure to hold near $55.27 could open the door for a deeper pullback into the lower $50s. A reversal close could target $59.21, though that remains speculative without further bullish catalysts.

Contango Structure Signals Oversupply Risk

The growing bearish sentiment is supported by a structural shift in the Brent and U.S. crude futures curves. Both benchmarks flipped into contango last week — a market condition where near-term contracts trade below later-dated ones. The Brent six-month spread widened to its most pronounced level since December 2023, while U.S. crude entered contango on Friday for the first time since January.

This structure encourages storage of physical crude, indicating traders expect short-term oversupply conditions to persist. Analysts warn of increasing floating storage activity and rising inventories in inland tanks, pointing to a genuine supply glut narrative not seen in over a year.

IEA Outlook and WTO Warning Amplify Bearish Sentiment

Recent losses were also fueled by the International Energy Agency’s projection of a growing global supply surplus into 2026. That longer-term view has started to feed into short-term sentiment, contributing to last week’s over 2% drop in both Brent and WTI — the third consecutive weekly decline for both benchmarks.

Adding to the bearish tone are escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The two largest oil consumers have imposed new port fees on cargo, raising concerns about global freight disruptions and weaker energy demand. The head of the World Trade Organization warned last week that prolonged economic decoupling could cut global output by 7% over time.

Geopolitical and Domestic Supply Pressures Persist

On the geopolitical front, the outlook for Russian oil supply remains uncertain. U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that the U.S. would maintain “massive” tariffs on India unless it halts Russian oil imports — a move that could further complicate global oil flows.

Meanwhile, Baker Hughes reported an increase in active U.S. drilling rigs last week, marking the first rise in three weeks. This uptick adds to the near-term supply pressure as producers respond to earlier price strength.

Bearish Outlook Anchored by Supply and Trade Risks

With both the futures curve in contango and macro pressures mounting, the short-term oil prices forecast leans bearish. Unless buyers regain control with a strong reversal, crude appears vulnerable to further downside, especially if the $55.27 level gives way.

More Information in our Economic Calendar.