Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), an operator of global exchanges and clearing houses and provider of data and listings services, has just announced the launch of physically delivered Permian WTI (Contract code: HOU) crude oil futures, deliverable in Houston, Texas.
Houston has become the pricing center for U.S. crude oil production and exports, and the new Permian WTI futures contract is designed to serve hedging and trading opportunities in this growing market.
With the growth in shale oil production in the Permian basin in West Texas, which is now estimated at 3.5 million barrels a day, and increased U.S. exports alongside growing international demand for light sweet crude oil, Houston has become the central delivery point for U.S. crude. The ICE Permian WTI futures contract is designed to provide price discovery, settlement and delivery at Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.’s (NYSE: MMP) terminal in East Houston.
When we were designing the Permian WTI Futures, customers consistently told us that it was critical to offer a high-quality, well known crude oil spec deliverable in Houston, and available for the waterborne export market,” said Jeff Barbuto, Vice President of Oil Markets at ICE. “By selecting Magellan’s East Houston terminal as the delivery point, we’re offering customers a trusted standard for WTI straight from the Permian Basin, and over time, it’s one that we think could develop into a benchmark for other grades to price around.
Magellan’s comprehensive Houston distribution system provides delivery options to all local refineries throughout the ship channel and Texas City and access to export capabilities at our Seabrook Logistics crude oil marine facility,” said Mark Roles, Magellan’s vice president of commercial crude oil. “The new ICE contract provides customers with extensive delivery options, pricing transparency, and liquidity in the Houston Gulf Coast crude oil market while increasing demand for Magellan’s pipeline and storage services.
Later today, ICE plans to list 36 months of flat price Permian WTI (HOU) contracts and a full matrix of calendar spreads, as well as inter-commodity spreads for HOU/Brent and HOU/WTI.