# Freeze Offs Tighten Crude Supplies as Distillate Draws Lift Cracks | RBN Energy

> Winter Storm Fern caused widespread freeze-offs that cut Lower 48 crude production by 480 thousand barrels per day and drew commercial crude stocks by 3.46 million barrels. Distillate stocks fell 5.55 million barrels, the largest draw since the same period last year, and the 3-2-1 crack rose to $24.52 per barrel led by a 20% jump in diesel cracks.

- Date: 2026-02-04 · published 2026-02-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: weather · region US · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/5927-freeze-offs-tighten-crude-supplies-as-distillate-draws-lift-cracks-rbn-energy
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Tight distillate stocks and strong refinery runs point to firm diesel prices and high diesel margins, raising fuel and freight costs for feed buyers. The production loss also supports crude prices in the near term.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bullish ▲
- DIESEL: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2026-01-23 | [US energy sector braces for winter storm as crude and natural gas output fall \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4761-us-energy-sector-braces-for-winter-storm-as-crude-and-natural-gas-output-fall.md) | +9.6% | +12.3% |
| WTI | 2023-06-21 | [Oil rallies as grain markets tighten, dollar falls on Fed Chair comments](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9771-oil-rallies-as-grain-markets-tighten-dollar-falls-on-fed-chair-comments.md) | -4.4% | +6.5% |
| WTI | 2024-09-13 | [Oil Price Rally Steers Crude Towards Weekly Gain - Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events - EnergyNow.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10173-oil-price-rally-steers-crude-towards-weekly-gain-energy-news-top-headlines.md) | +4.3% | +9.6% |
| WTI | 2024-10-15 | [Prices of crops, oil bounce back from late summer lows \| The Western Producer](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27969-prices-of-crops-oil-bounce-back-from-late-summer-lows-the-western-producer.md) | -5.8% | -7.4% |
| WTI | 2026-01-16 | [Oil prices rise as supply risk remain in focus](https://feedsoft.ai/events/11394-oil-prices-rise-as-supply-risk-remain-in-focus.md) | +2.8% | +6.5% |
| DIESEL | 2021-02-15 | [Higher diesel prices likely as freeze shuts down Gulf Coast refineries - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48826-higher-diesel-prices-likely-as-freeze-shuts-down-gulf-coast-refineries.md) | +4.9% | +9.7% |
| DIESEL | 2026-01-23 | [US energy sector braces for winter storm as crude and natural gas output fall \| Reuters](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4761-us-energy-sector-braces-for-winter-storm-as-crude-and-natural-gas-output-fall.md) | +8.1% | +12.1% |
| DIESEL | 2020-08-24 | [Diesel price hike relatively muted as oil markets await arrival of Laura - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/51796-diesel-price-hike-relatively-muted-as-oil-markets-await-arrival-of-laura.md) | +0.4% | -7.3% |

## Sources

- rbnenergy.com: https://rbnenergy.com/daily-posts/analyst-insight/freeze-offs-tighten-crude-supplies-distillate-draws-lift-cracks

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.