Saudi Arabia is following through on its threat to flood the market, after Russia last month rejected a Saudi-led OPEC proposal for significant production cuts to backstop already sliding oil prices from the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the global economy.

Podcast/Audio - US lawmakers from oil-producing states are trying to increase pressure on the White House to do something to help drillers getting hammered by plummeting prices -- from aggressive diplomacy to banning crude imports.

U.S. Commercial crude stocks jumped 13.83 million barrels to 469.19 million barrels during the week

Brent was down $1.45, or 5.5%, at $24.90. WTI was down 27 cents, or 1.3%, at $20.21.

The discussions between Washington and Moscow mark a new twist in global oil diplomacy since a failed deal earlier this month between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia to cut production ignited a price war that sent oil prices tumbling.

China is boosting U.S. energy imports at a time when the world is swamped with excess supply after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia failed to extend production cuts and as measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus undermined demand.

China's oil product consumption over the first two months of 2020 dropped 14.1% year on year to 41.94 million mt.

Brent was up by 61 cents, or 2.7%, at $23.37 a barrel, WTI was up by $1.04, or 5.2%, at $21.13 a barrel

Putin and Trump discussed the oil market at a time when prices continue to tumble due to the collapse of the OPEC+ crude production cut agreement, and the major economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iraq is selling around 70% of its crude exports to Asia,