2025-05-22 07:00:00
OIL PRICE: BRENT ABOVE $64, WTI BELOW $62
REUTERS - May 22, 2025 - Oil prices eased on Thursday as unexpected builds in U.S. crude and fuel inventories raised demand concerns, while investors stayed cautious, focusing on renewed Iran-U.S. nuclear talks.
Brent futures slipped 33 cents, or 0.5%, to $64.58 a barrel by 0038 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 32 cents, or 0.5%, to $61.25. Both benchmarks lost 0.7% on Wednesday.
U.S. crude and fuel inventories posted surprise stock builds last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, as crude imports hit a six-week high and gasoline and distillate demand slipped.
Crude inventories rose by 1.3 million barrels to 443.2 million barrels in the week ended May 16, the EIA said. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a 1.3 million-barrel draw.
"While rising U.S. inventories have raised concerns, some investors expect the summer driving season starting after Memorial Day weekend to draw down stocks, limiting further downside," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.
"Traders remain cautious, avoiding large positions as they assess conflicting signals over U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and a media report of potential Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities," he added, predicting WTI to trade between $55 and $65 for the time being.
The fifth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States will take place on May 23 in Rome, Oman's foreign minister said on Wednesday.
CNN reported on Tuesday that U.S. intelligence suggests Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, citing multiple U.S. officials and adding that it was not clear whether Israeli leaders have made a final decision.
Iran is the third-largest producer among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and an Israeli attack could upset flows from the country.
U.S. and Iran have held several rounds of talks this year over Iran's nuclear programme, while U.S. President Donald Trump has revived a campaign of stronger sanctions on Iranian crude exports.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan's oil production has risen by 2% in May, an industry source said on Tuesday, defying OPEC+ pressure to reduce output.
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Earlier:
2025, May, 14, 07:00:00
OIL PRICE: BRENT ABOVE $66, WTI BELOW $64
Brent fell 39 cents, or 0.6%, to $66.24 a barrel, WTI slipped 36 cents, or 0.6%, to $63.31.
2025, May, 14, 06:55:00
РОССИЯ ВЕРНЕТСЯ НА 10,8 МБД
Уже в ближайшие годы мы планируем вернуться на уровень добычи 540 млн т нефти в год. Этот показатель будет удерживаться вплоть до 2050 г.
2025, May, 13, 06:55:00
ОПЕК+ РОССИЯ: + 411 ТБД
Стороны обсудили состояние и перспективы мирового рынка нефти и договорились произвести в июне 2025 года корректировку добычи на 411 тыс. баррелей в сутки, что соответствует трём ежемесячным повышениям.
2025, May, 13, 06:50:00
OPEC+ RUSSIA: + 411 TBD
In view of the current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories, and in accordance with the decision agreed upon on 5 December 2024 to start a gradual and flexible return of the 2.2 million barrels per day voluntary adjustments starting from 1 April 2025, the eight participating countries will implement a production adjustment of 411 thousand barrels per day in June 2025 from May 2025 required production level.
2025, May, 13, 06:30:00
RUSSIAN OIL EXPORTS UP
According to CCI data, the largest monthly increase in April was shown by shipments through the port of Kozmino +17.79%, 139 thousand tons per day.
2025, April, 25, 07:00:00
OIL PRICE: BRENT NEAR $67, WTI BELOW $64
Brent gained 43 cents to $66.98 a barrel, WTI rose 42 cents to $63.21 a barrel.
2025, April, 25, 06:55:00
RUSSIAN OIL FOR INDIA UP
India’s imports of Russian crude are on track to hit 2.15 million barrels a day in April, the biggest monthly volume since May 2023, according to data from Kpler. Shipments have climbed since tumbling to a 14-month low in February.
2025, April, 25, 06:50:00
RUSSIAN OIL PRICE 2025: $68
The ministry envisages in its baseline scenario of economic forecasts for 2025 that the average price for Brent will be at $68 per barrel, down from the $81.7 per barrel it assumed in its September forecasts,
