U.S. crude inventories climbed 3 million barrels in the week ended Friday, breaking a 10‑week streak of drawdowns and raising concerns that storage limits at Cushing, Okla. could stall further deliveries.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to its lowest level since 1983, tightening a safety cushion that had buffered earlier shocks. With the Trump‑era ceasefire officially over, market watchers warn that the fuel supply line could tighten sharply as inventories deplete.

Oil prices slipped back to prewar levels after tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumed, but analysts say that the pace of stockpile recovery will lag the surge in demand. “The worst fears of the oil market could still be realized later this year as we get to the minimum operating levels,” warned Andy Lipow.

Investors should track inventory trends and consider hedging strategies, as a rapid drop in storage could trigger price spikes and expose совладельцы to heightened volatility amid geopolitical uncertainty.