Oil fell to around $68 a barrel on Tuesday, pressured as concerns faded of a supply disruption in Saudi, which countered a pause in dollar's rally and prospects for tighter supply due to OPEC+ curbs
Most of the OPEC+ producers, led by world's top exporter Saudi Arabia, last week decided to extend most output curbs into April
OPEC+ will have an important say in how the oil supercycle plays out. Oil prices are now at a level that could bring at least the smaller US operators back and even start to tempt renewed longer-cycle
Brent crude was up 51 cents, or 0.8%, at $63.42 a barrel
The front-month VLSFO margin was at $15 per barrel above Dubai crude on Tuesday, its highest since Feb. 20 and up from $11.75 a barrel at the start of the year, according to Refinitiv data in Eikon
Iraq was the top oil supplier to India in 2020 and a reduction in long-term Basra crude supplies could erode Baghdad's market share in the world's third largest oil importer and consumer
Saudi Arabia has cut supplies of February-loading crude by 10% for at least two Asian buyers while meeting requirements of at least three others, several refinery and trade sources said
Saudi Arabia plans to cut output by an extra 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February and March to keep inventories in check
The east-west divide is an added conundrum for OPEC+, which on Monday and Tuesday needs to decide whether to delay a production increase slated for January -- and if so, for how long
Bloc set to meet virtually to address key concerns on the back of a disastrous yr
But Brent was down 81 cents, or 1.7%, at $47.80 a barrel by 1256 GMT on Thursday, having dropped as much as $1
Saudi Arabia regained the top spot in China's oil purchases last month after losing that rank to Russia for the previous two months, data showed
COVID-19 cases topped 40 million on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, with a growing second wave in Europe and North America sparking various degrees of lockdown measures
CEOs of the world's biggest trading companies are forecasting a weak recovery for oil demand and little movement in prices
Fuel demand in India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, fell 7.8% in June
Brent has more than doubled after hitting a 21-year low below $16 in April, when U.S. crude went negative
Petrol and diesel prices in India, however, remained on freeze for the 14th day in a row
This chaotic mismatch in supply and demand has benefited consumers, who have watched gasoline prices slide lower
Petrol, diesel consumption to drop, rise in stockpile likely
Gasoline demand in the United States, the world's largest oil consumer, is plunging. International flights are being grounded worldwide, slamming jet fuel demand