Oil prices slipped on Monday due to worries about global fuel demand as coronavirus restrictions across Europe toughens and China imposes restrictions due to jump in cases. Brent crude oil futures were down 65 cents, or 1.2%, at $55.34 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 44 cents, …
Read More »OPEC Crude Output Cuts should Help U.S. shale profits in 2021
A decision by OPEC and allied countries to cut crude production through March delivered a late Christmas present for U.S. shale firms that have slashed costs, but any rise in prices spurred by the unexpected move may be just a modest stocking stuffer. U.S. crude oil production has fallen 2 …
Read More »Covid-19 Sinks Indian Demand for Fuel for First Time in over Two Decades
Demand for petroleum products in India has tumbled to multi-year lows following its first contraction in consumption since 1999, as the coronavirus pandemic rattles the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer. Total petroleum consumption was down for the whole year of the pandemic, falling by over 10 percent to 193.4 …
Read More »Asian Buyers Rush to Secure North Sea Oil after Saudi Surprise Cut
Saudi Arabia’s surprise announcement that it would cut 1 million barrels per day (bpd) beyond its share of OPEC+ cuts in February and March has refiners in Asia scrambling to secure supplies from Europe, with record purchases of North Sea cargoes in one day. Saudi Arabia caught the market by …
Read More »Saudis Raise Asia and U.S. Oil Prices After Shock Output Cut
Saudi Arabia raised pricing for oil customers in Asia and the U.S. after its shock move this week to cut output sent crude prices climbing. A day after its unilateral decision to slash oil production by 1 million barrels a day next month and in March, the kingdom opted to …
Read More »Russia’s Annual Oil Production at Lowest Level since 2011
Russia’s oil production declined last year for the first time since 2008 and reached its lowest level since 2011 following a global deal to cut output and low demand due to the coronavirus. According to an article by Reuters, Russian oil and gas condensate output declined to 10.27 million barrels …
Read More »Goldman Sees Surprise Saudi Cut as Signal Oil Demand to Weaken
Saudi Arabia’s decision to cut oil production probably reflects expectations for demand to weaken further as coronavirus lockdowns return around the world, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The kingdom’s pledge to lower output by 1 million barrels a day in February and March was surprising for several reasons, Goldman …
Read More »The U.S. Exempts Iraq from Sanctions Imposed on Iran to Import Gas for Three more Months
An Iraqi official stated that Washington has extended the exemption granted to Iraq from the sanctions imposed on Iran in the energy field for an additional three months. He pointed out, according to Agence France-Presse, “this new exemption, which is longer than all previous exemptions, is the result of long …
Read More »Saudi Energy Minister Urges OPEC+ Discipline as Some Members Seek Output Gains
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman delivered a stark warning to his OPEC+ counterparts, urging the coalition to stay disciplined with their crude production or risk upending the oil market’s recovery fostered by their historic output cuts since May. “Now as we see light at the end of the …
Read More »Iraq Says Chinese Company Wins $2 Billion Oil Prepayment Deal
Iraq has agreed a multibillion-dollar oil-supply deal with a Chinese company, according to the Arab nation’s official news agency. SOMO, which oversees Iraq’s petroleum exports, picked a Chinese firm after receiving bids from several traders, INA reported, citing an interview with SOMO General Manager Alaa Al-Yasiri. While INA didn’t name …
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