Oil below zero: Here's what happened

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.

On Monday, April 20, 2020, the price of oil traded deep into the red falling below zero for the first time ever shocking even the most seasoned energy traders and oil executives.

What happened? The market was well aware the coronavirus has decimated demand across the globe as economies have come to a screeching halt but was that enough to push crude into negative territory?

FOX Business takes a look at what drove the price into a freefall and if it can recover.

Oil Falls Below Zero

During Monday's session, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures for May delivery cratered by 305 percent to -$36.73 a barrel. At any price below zero, buyers are paid to take delivery as there are costs associated with transportation and storage. WTI closed at its lowest level since recordkeeping began in March 1983, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

OIL CRASHES 305% NOW -$36.73 A BARREL

It is unclear whether there was a specific catalyst that sparked the sharp one-day selling, but President Trump remarked the decline was a once in a lifetime event.

"Nobody has ever heard of negative oil before but it is short-term," said Trump on Monday.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

What Drove Crude's Collapse?  

Along with practically no global demand, there is plenty of supply. OPEC and the United States, are also to blame says Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group and a FOX Business contributor.

“This is a disaster because OPEC did not act fast enough to cut production, it is a disaster because U.S. producers did not pull back fast enough and it’s a disaster more than anything because this a snapshot of what the world looks like when it stops, when economic growth grinds to a halt,” Flynn explained.

Demand Disappears, Global Economy on Hold 

To follow up on Flynn's observation, the coronavirus pandemic has pushed most of the world's population, give or take a few countries, into self-quarantine. Airlines have cancelled thousands of flights, cruise lines are idled, hotels and stores are closed and most employees, with the exception of essential personnel, are working from home and not driving.

"Let's not sugar coat this, this is not a recession, this is a depression, so there are 22 million Americans that lost their jobs over the last four weeks. That translates to 15 million Americans who are not driving to work each day" said Stephen Schork of The Schork Report in an interview with FOX Business.

It still remains unclear when the U.S. economy will return to a fully functioning entity nationwide.

As for the key summer driving season when demand heats up, "that is dead on arrival" according to Schork.

Oil Storage Nearly Full 

When supply outstrips demand a product needs to be stored. In this case, oil is being stored but that precious storage space is running out but production is still kicking too hot.

"We have no demand, we are producing too much and probably by the end of the next month if not sooner we are not going to have any place to store this oil. So what is going to happen is we are going to have to dump it onto the market" warned Schork.

WITH OIL BELOW ZERO, TRUMP TO CREATE STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE HISTORIC BUYING OPPORTUNITY

Trump Floats Historic Buying Opportunity 

Traders and investors long oil didn't have any silver lining as prices cratered negative but President Trump revisited a move he sees as a historic buying opportunity for a commodity that he believes will rebound.

“Based on the record low price of oil, it is at a level that is very interesting to a lot of people, we’re filling up our national petroleum reserves, strategic reserves and we are looking to put as much as 75 million barrels into the reserves themselves that would top it out, that would be the first time in a long time its been topped out and we’d get it at the right price,” said Trump.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS