RUS | ENG | All
Enter the email or login, that you used for registration.
If you do not remember your password, simply leave this field blank and you will receive a new, along with a link to activate.

Not registered yet?
Welcome!

2020-04-01 13:05:00

OIL PRICE: NEAR $25

OIL PRICE: NEAR $25

REUTERS - APRIL 1, 2020 - Oil slid to $25 a barrel on Wednesday, within sight of its lowest in 18 years, as a report showing a big rise in U.S. inventories and a widening rift within OPEC heightened oversupply concerns.

Pledges of higher output from Saudi Arabia and Russia after a supply pact collapsed and a slide in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak have hammered the market.

Global benchmark Brent crude fell 66% in the first three months of 2020 in its biggest ever quarterly loss.

As of 0830 GMT, Brent was down $1.45, or 5.5%, at $24.90. The price fell to $21.65 on Monday, the lowest since 2002. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 27 cents, or 1.3%, at $20.21.

"April will be one of the toughest months in history for oil and this is no April fool's joke," said Bjornar Tonhaugen of Rystad Energy.

"The market is oversupplied in April to the tune of 25 million barrels per day. There's nowhere to hide from this tsunami of oversupply."

Underlining supply glut fears, the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, reported U.S. crude inventories rose by 10.5 million barrels, far exceeding forecasts for a 4 million barrel increase.

Attention will focus on U.S. government figures due on Wednesday to confirm the API figures.

The bearish mood was also fueled by a rift within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members have not agreed to hold a technical meeting in April to discuss sliding prices.

An OPEC-led supply deal fell apart on March 6 when Russia refused to cut output further. Saudi Arabia has already begun to boost output, a Reuters OPEC survey showed on Tuesday, and is expected to pump more in April.

"It is very unlikely that OPEC, with or without Russia or the United States, will agree a sufficient volumetric solution to offset oil demand losses," BNP Paribas analyst Harry Tchilinguirian said in a report on Tuesday.

Adding to the downward pressure, sources told Reuters that top U.S. officials have for now put aside a proposal for an alliance with Saudi Arabia to manage the global oil market.

"Diplomacy won't be able to help the physical oil market nor oil prices in the short term," Tonhaugen of Rystad said. "The market is officially broken and no longer reflecting the value of crude."

-----


Earlier:

OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 31, 13:50:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $23 YET
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
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 30, 10:30:00
OIL PRICE: NEAR $23
Brent was down 5.8%, or $1.45, to $23.48 a barrel, WTI fell as far as $19.92, near an 18-year low hit earlier this month, and was last trading down 3.8%, or $0.82, at $20.69 a barrel.
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 30, 10:25:00
#OilPriceWar AGAINST U.S.
A group of six U.S. senators wrote a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week saying Saudi Arabia and Russia “have embarked upon economic warfare against the United States” and were threatening U.S. “energy dominance”.
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 30, 10:20:00
#OilPriceWar: OPEC+: THE NEW AGREEMENT
Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Russian counterpart Alexander Novak have not held any discussions about a joint agreement to balance oil markets, indicating no resolution to the price war.
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 30, 10:15:00
#OilPriceWar LOSSES $192 BLN
Oil exporters in the Middle East and North Africa region will lose $192 billion in crude income in 2020
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 27, 13:55:00
#OilPriceWar: RUSSIA UNCHANGED
Russia ramped up measures to combat the virus on Wednesday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin announcing that next week would be a paid non-working week throughout the country.
OIL PRICE: NEAR $25
2020, March, 26, 11:35:00
#OilPriceWar: CHINA WINS
China is saving about $250mn a day after crude prices crashed this year amid dual demand and supply shocks.
All Publications »
Tags: OIL, PRICE, BRENT, WTI