Oil firms as US dollar falls further, but weaker crude demand looms

[SINGAPORE] Oil prices reversed earlier falls on Friday as ongoing weakness in the US dollar was seen supporting fuel consumption.

Brent crude futures were at US$70.40 per barrel at 0756 GMT, down 3 US cents from their last close, after dropping as low as US$70.07 earlier in the day.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at US$65.52 a barrel, up 1 US cent from their previous close, recovering from a session-low of US$64.91 a barrel.

Crude oil futures have received support from a weakening US dollar, which on Friday hit fresh 2014 lows against a basket of other leading currencies.

As oil is traded in US dollars, swings in the greenback can also impact oil demand as it affects the price of fuel purchases for countries using other currencies.

"The weakening of the US dollar against a basket of global currencies ... has positioned 2018 to lead off with strong levels of oil demand," said BMI Research.

Despite this, crude prices were prevented from further rises by a seasonally weakening demand outlook.

Georgi Slavov, head of research at commodities brokerage Marex Spectron, said despite a generally healthy outlook for oil demand, there were short-term headwinds due to the upcoming end of the peak-demand period during the northern hemisphere winter season.

Many refiners shut down after winter for maintenance, resulting in lower orders for crude, their most important feedstock.

"Demand is starting to weaken as ... refining capacity was taken out of the market," Mr Slavov said.

US bank Jefferies said "a fairly heavy maintenance season" was starting in the United States, adding there was also upcoming "scheduled maintenance in the Middle East (including the 400,000 barrels per day Aramco Jubail refinery)." This is reflecting in oil inventories.

"Global oil stocks built overall in the week ending Jan 19, as both crude and product stocks saw small builds," US bank Morgan Stanley said.

On the supply side, US oil production is expected to hit 10 million bpd soon, after reaching 9.88 million bpd last week.

Output has grown by more than 17 per cent since mid-2016 and is now on par with top exporter Saudi Arabia's.

Only Russia produces more, averaging 10.98 million bpd in 2017.

Rising US output threatens to undermine the supply restraint led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and Russia, aimed at propping up prices.

The cuts, coupled with demand growth, have contributed to a near 60 per cent rise in oil prices since mid-2017 as excess crude inventories have been drawn down.

REUTERS