China was the top foreign buyer of US crude in February, according to data that show the growing interdependence of the world’s big energy-consuming nations at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the official described India as one of Iran's good customers, but stressed that New Delhi cutting its oil purchase from Iran would not cause any trouble for Tehran as the country has more demand for its oil than can produce.

Brent crude futures were at $54.20 per barrel at 0708 GMT, down 16 cents, or 0.28 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 18 cents, or 0.35 percent, at $50.97 a barrel.

China, the world’s largest crude oil net importer, increased the share of its crude oil imports from countries outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2016. Of the country’s 7.6 million barrels per day (b/d) of 2016 crude oil imports, 57% came from OPEC countries, led by Saudi Arabia (13% of total imports), Angola (11%), Iraq (10%), and Iran (8%).

Отклонение нефтегазовых доходов федерального бюджета от месячной оценки, соответствующей Федеральному закону о федеральном бюджете на 2017-2019 годы, в апреле 2017 года прогнозируется в размере +64,5 млрд руб. Отклонение фактически полученных нефтегазовых доходов по итогам марта 2017 года от оценки величины нефтегазовых доходов в марте 2017 года, осуществленной месяцем ранее, составило +5,4 млрд руб.

"Iran needs billions of dollars of investment to boost crude oil production and natural gas capacity," said Mehdi Varzi, a former official at state-run National Iranian Oil Company and now an independent consultant.

Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil, were at $54.52 per barrel at 0658 GMT, up 35 cents, or 0.65 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 33 cents, or 0.65 percent, at $51.35 a barrel.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross, Jr. issued the following statement today on the release of the February 2017 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services monthly data. In February 2017, the trade deficit stood at $43.6 billion compared to $45.6 billion in February 2016. In February 2017, exports of goods and services stood at $192.9 billion, compared to $180.7 billion in February 2016. In February 2017, imports of goods and services stood at $236.4 billion, compared to $226.3 billion in February 2016.

International benchmark Brent futures rose 3 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $53.56 a barrel by 0658 GMT. The March contract closed the previous session down 13 cents at $52.83 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 10 cents, or 0.2 percent, to $50.70 a barrel after settling 25 cents higher in the previous session.

Министр также рассказал о влиянии санкций на реализацию проектов в Арктике. «Ни один российский проект не остановился. Наша промышленность от санкций только выиграла, Например, сегодня «Газпром» уже использует в арктической зоне 100% оборудования российского производства. Что касается того импорта, который пока остался, то мы переориентировались на наших восточных партнеров», - сказал Александр Новак.

The light, sweet crude oil contract for May settled above $50/bbl on the New York market Mar. 30 while the May Brent contract settled above $52.90/bbl in London. Prices edged lower on both markets on Mar. 31.

Although Turkey has a lack of energy reserves itself, it is a good transit state and can bring benefit to both itself and the EU through the use of alternative pipelines in different regions. Like Russia, Turkey has both problematic and good relations with the European Union, but unlike Russia it wants to be the part of Euro-Atlantic Security Community.

Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS), Japan's JERA and China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) [SASACY.UL] - whose joint liquefied natural gas volumes account for a third of global LNG trade - are attempting to cement a shift in power from producers to importers amid a supply glut that is expected to persist into the early-2020s.

U.S. Rig Count is up 374 rigs from last year's count of 450, with oil rigs up 300, gas rigs up 72, and miscellaneous rigs up 2. Canadian Rig Count is up 106 rigs from last year's count of 49, with oil rigs up 44, gas rigs up 62, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged.

Brent crude futures LCOc1, the international benchmark for oil, were at $52.70 per barrel at 0513 GMT, down 26 cents from their last close. In the United States, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were down 18 cents at $50.17 a barrel.