Crude up in Asia on US stockpile fall

Oil prices rose in Asian trade today on an unexpected fall in US crude stockpiles, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in January rose 52 cents to $87.27 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for January delivery added 62 cents to $110.45.

The black gold received support from "the American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing a stock drawdown", said Victor Shum, senior principal of Purvin and Gertz energy consultants in Singapore.

"What's driving it is primarily the report from the API showing a crude oil inventory draw," he told AFP.

The API data yesterday showed US inventories falling by more than 1.9 million barrels last week, compared with analyst projections of a 900,000 barrel gain.

This indicates a pickup in energy demand in the world's largest economy and oil consumer.