Brent were down $1.14, or 1.1%, at $107.64 a barrel, WTI were off $1.32, or 1.3%, at $102.93 a barrel.

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $106.07 a barrel on Wednesday

China's crude imports in the first quarter averaged 10.41 million b/d, down 8.1% year on year.

U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased by 9.4 million barrels to 421.8 million barrels.

Brent rose by 48 cents, or 0.5%, to $105.12 a barrel, WTI gained 28 cents, or 0.3%, to $100.88.

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $102.41 a barrel on Tuesday

For 2022, world oil demand growth is revised down by 0.5 mb/d to stand at 3.7 mb/d, mostly reflecting the downward revision in world economic growth. Oil demand growth is forecast at 1.9 mb/d in the OECD and 1.8 mb/d in the non-OECD.

The Brent price will average $108/b in 2Q22 and $102/b in the second half of 2022 (2H22).

Brent were up $2.98 or 3.03% to $101.46 a barrel, WTI was up $3 or 3.18% to $97.29 a barrel.

Russia's invasion has driven up the price of the oil, gas and grain it exports, providing it with a substantial windfall to fund its "special military operation" - now entering a new phase as Moscow focuses on the eastern Donbas region after failing to break Ukraine's defence of the capital Kyiv.

The Chinese oil group CNOOC is seeking to raise CNY28.1bn (US$4.4bn) in a share listing in Shanghai (China), offering CNY10.8/share (US$1.7/share).

For the first quarter 2022 results, the post-tax impact from impairment of non-current assets and additional charges (e.g. write-downs of receivable, expected credit losses, and onerous contracts) relating to Russia activities are expected to be $4 to $5 billion.

Brent was down $2.08, or 2%, at $100.70 a barrel, WTI lost $2.19, or 2.2%, to $96.07.

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $100.12 a barrel

Vladimir Putin likely sees the global energy shortage and lack of energy security as an opportunity to advance Russia’s interests in Ukraine, knowing that Europe has no other choice than to buy their petroleum.