Oil settles up more than 1% after US urges caution for vessels near Iran

[NEW YORK] Oil prices settled more than 1 per cent higher on Monday after the US Department of Transportation issued an advisory to US-flagged vessels to stay as far as possible from Iranian territory while passing through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman.

Brent crude oil futures settled up 99 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at US$69.04 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 81 cents, or 1.3 per cent, to settle at US$64.36.

The US DOT’s Maritime Administration on Monday noted that vessels going through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman have historically faced the risk of being boarded by Iranian forces, including as recently as Feb 3.

The agency advised US-flagged ships to stay close to Oman while eastbound in the Strait of Hormuz.

The move renewed concerns that tensions between the US and Iran could lead to oil supply disruptions. About a fifth of the oil consumed globally passes through the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran.

“This week’s crude trade, and possibly the rest of this month, will have little to do with oil fundamentals but much to do with injection and rejection of risk premium related to Iran,” said oil trading adviser Ritterbusch and Associates. 

Oil prices had dropped earlier, extending last week’s losses, after the US and Iran pledged to continue indirect talks following what they described as positive discussions.

Still, Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday the country will strike US bases in the Middle East if attacked by US forces, which have built up their naval presence in the region.

“Extremely difficult to judge how it is evolving,” UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said, adding: “Watching day by day, now looking for a date to be set for round two of the talks”.

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Investors were also monitoring Western efforts to curb Russia’s income from oil exports that support its war in Ukraine. The European Commission has proposed a sweeping ban on any services that support Russia’s seaborne crude oil exports.

Refiners in India, once the biggest buyer of this crude, are avoiding purchases for delivery in April, sources said.

If India fully stopped Russian purchases “this would be a sustained bullish development,” said Sparta oil market analysts.

Meanwhile in Kazakhstan, the giant Chevron-led Tengiz oil field has recovered to around 60 per cent of peak production and aims to reach full output by Feb 23, sources said.

US crude oil stockpiles likely rose last week while gasoline and distillate stocks are expected to have decreased, according to a preliminary Reuters poll of market analysts on Monday. REUTERS