This is a function of the "fear premium". A few people alluded to this this .... I'd pay more to have it now -- and know that I have it; than pay for something to be delivered at a point later in the future which might not be available when I need it. Also called backwardation, commodities markets are in that state over 60% of the time which is why it's often profitable to get long a few months out the curve and ride it up and into prompt as opposed to rolling a front month position forward. D