Brent rose 2 cents to $45.88 a barrel , WTI fell 3 cents to $43.32.

The US' crude oil imports to China were last highest in January 2018 when inflows hit 2.01 million mt, or 474,450 b/d.

“Although the market remains uncertain, we saw encouraging signs in July with gradual rebalancing of oil supply and demand,” API Chief Economist Dean Forman said. “Increases in U.S. refinery throughput and capacity utilization in July – coupled with inventories receding from record highs – has reinforced expectations for the continued demand recovery.”

Brent added 14 cents, or 0.3%, to $45.27 a barrel , WTI was down 4 cents, or 0.1%, at $42.58 a barrel.

Iraq is under US pressure to wean itself off Iranian electricity and gas imports, needed due to power shortages and flaring of associated gas, which is also bound by production limits due to the country's attempted adherence to OPEC+ production cuts.

Norway's preliminary production figures for July 2020 show an average daily production of 2 062 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate.

Brent was up 32 cents, or 0.7%, at $44.67 a barrel , WTI rose 31 cents, or 0.7%, to $42.65.

U.S. Rig Count is up 10 from last week at 254, Canada Rig Count is up 2 rigs from last week to 56

Brent were up 5 cents, or 0.1%, at $44.95 per barrel, WTI were unchanged at $42.82 per barrel

Brent was down 48 cents, or 1%, at $44.89 a barrel, WTI fell 34 cents, or 0.8%, at $42.59 a barrel.