Oil prices weighed down by record US output, inventories - CNBC

An offshore oil rig off the coast of Norway.

Nerijus Adomaitis | Reuters

Oil prices fell on Thursday, pulled down by a surge in U.S. crude stockpiles due to higher crude imports, a drop in refining activity and strong weekly output from the world's largest producer.

Brent crude oil futures were down 67 cents at $71.51 per barrel around 7:20 a.m. ET (1120 GMT). Brent is set for a weekly loss, which would break its longest string of weekly gains for a year.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 70 cents at $62.90 per barrel.

U.S. crude stockpiles last week rose to their highest since September 2017, jumping by 9.9 million barrels to 470.6 million barrels as production hit a record high of 12.3 million barrels per day, government data showed.

"This comes as U.S. refineries head into the spring maintenance period, stoking fears that crude oil demand will be soft and stockpiles will continue to rise," ANZ bank said.

Meanwhile, Poland's energy ministry said it decided to release mandatory oil reserves following the suspension of contaminated oil deliveries from Russia in April, to secure regular output at local refineries.

Oil prices, though, are still supported by the political crisis in Venezuela, stricter U.S. sanctions against Iran that allow no more exemptions from May, and as OPEC continues to withhold supply.

Oman's energy minister Mohammed bin Hamad al-Rumhy said on Wednesday it was OPEC's goal to extend the production cuts, which started in January, when the group and its allies next meet in June.

Despite the desire of many OPEC members to continue supply cuts, the group may eventually be forced into action to meet demand in a market that has seen prices rise more than 30 percent this year.

Russia has sent signals about potentially increasing output. In April, however, the country's oil output fell to 11.23 million bpd from 11.3 million bpd in March, still above OPEC quotas.

"Warnings about fragile economic growth, rising U.S. production and exports and the U.S. president's low pain threshold for high oil prices coupled with his bullying tactics. Will (OPEC's concerted effort) continue?" PVM's Tamas Varga said.

"OPEC is like a teabag; it works best in hot water ... The U.S. oil market might just be providing the producer group with the perfect excuse to extend the production agreement for at least another six months."

Fitch Solutions analysts also warned, beyond Venezuela, of risks to supply from Libya, where a civil war threatens to cut oilfields off from markets.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/02/oil-market-us-sanctions-on-iran-venezuela-crisis-in-focus.html

2019-05-02 09:43:53Z
CAIiEEKC6Dkdz2SYqH2VmfToaIkqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow2Nb3CjDivdcCMOryngY

Bagikan Berita Ini