Iraq continued to be the top oil seller to India despite a 23% decline in purchases to a five-month low of 867,500 bpd, the data showed
Saudi Arabia has pledged to continue with an extra 1 million barrels per day voluntary output cut for a third month in April
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