Oil Prices Rise as Strong Demand Forecasts Outweigh Supply Concerns
Last Updated: May 23, 2023, 00:57 IST
Last week, both oil benchmarks gained about 2% in their first weekly rise in five after wildfires shut in large amounts of crude supply in Alberta, Canada. (Image: Reuters File)
Oil prices, however, were held in check by a stronger dollar and as the market waited for news on the U.S. debt ceiling talks
Oil prices rose 1% on Monday on strong demand forecasts for the second half of the year while supplies from Canada and OPEC+ declined in recent weeks.
Oil prices, however, were held in check by a stronger dollar and as the market waited for news on the U.S. debt ceiling talks.
Brent futures for July delivery rose 74 cents, or 1.0%, to $76.32 a barrel by 1:43 p.m. EDT (1743 GMT).
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for June delivery rose 75 cents, or 1.1%, to $72.30 per barrel, while the more active July contract, which will become the front-month after Monday’s close, rose 65 cents to $72.34.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warned of a looming oil shortage in the second half of the year when demand is expected to eclipse supply by almost 2 million barrels per day (bpd), the Paris-based agency said in its latest monthly report.
A senior executive at Vitol said Asia will lead oil demand growth of around 2 million bpd in the second half of the year, an increase that could potentially lead to a shortage of supply and drive up prices.
Last week, both oil benchmarks gained about 2% in their first weekly rise in five after wildfires shut in large amounts of crude supply in Alberta, Canada.
The impact of voluntary production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, is also being felt after going into effect this month.
Oil production in Iraq’s Kurdistan region continued to drop as export flows to Turkey’s Ceyhan port show few signs of restarting after a stoppage that has lasted almost two months.
Total exports of crude and oil products from OPEC+ plunged by 1.7 million bpd by May 16, JP Morgan said, adding that Russian oil exports will likely fall by late May.
On Saturday, the Group of Seven (G7) nations pledged at its annual leaders’ meeting to enhance efforts to counter Russia’s evasion of the price caps on its oil and fuel exports.
The G7 meeting, however, upset China, the world’s biggest oil importer. State-backed Chinese mouthpiece Global Times called the G7 an “anti-China workshop.”
The G7 singled out China on issues including Taiwan, nuclear arms, economic coercion and human rights abuses.
“Crude prices are in no man’s land as energy traders look to see what happens with both debt ceiling talks and with U.S. and China tensions,” said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at data and analytics firm OANDA.
U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet on Monday to discuss raising the federal government’s debt ceiling, just 10 days before the U.S. could face an unprecedented default.
The U.S. dollar rose against a basket of other currencies, holding just below a two-month high, as investors waited on fresh signals on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to continue hiking interest rates and watched for news on the U.S. debt ceiling.
A stronger dollar can weigh on oil demand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies.
U.S. Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said it was a “close call” whether he would vote to raise interest rates or pause the central bank’s tightening cycle when it meets next month.
Higher interest rates boost borrowing costs, which can slow the economy and reduce oil demand.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)
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