Brent crude falls as oversupply fears mount

[NEW YORK] Global benchmark Brent crude fell on Thursday as concerns about mounting supply returned after a brief rally on comments that Saudi Arabia's exports would fall in August.

Crude prices pulled back from earlier session highs reached after Saudi Arabia's OPEC Governor Adeeb Al-Aama said in a statement that the kingdom expects crude exports to drop by roughly 100,000 bpd in August as it limits excess production.

Brent oil fell 78 cents to US$72.12 per barrel by 1.04pm EDT (1704 GMT), previously reaching a session high of US$73.79. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was 53 cents higher at US$69.29. US crude prices had reached a session high of US$70.17 earlier in the session before paring gains.

The pullback came as traders cashed in on profits after an early rally, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Management in New York. Prices, which had strengthened on news of Saudi Arabia's planned export cuts, fell as the market's focus returned to potential oversupply as Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major producers continue to lift output.

Opec and non-Opec producers cut oil output in June by 20 per cent more than agreed levels, compared to 47 per cent in May, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Just because the Saudis are trying to temper the fallout, doesn't change the fact that they are increasing production," Kilduff said.

Commodities also came under pressure as the dollar strengthened and a new wave of trade tensions stoked fears of damage to economies and commodities.

"Refining margins in Asia are under pressure and some of the Chinese independent refiners have cut back on their processing, which is weighing on the Brent market," said Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston.

Global oil prices also faced downward pressure from the news that a worker strike at Norwegian drilling rigs has ended and continued talk from Russia and Saudi Arabia of meeting supply needs.

"Saudi Arabia and Russia talking about supplying the markets, that would certainly have the potential to weigh on market sentiments," Lipow said.

Crude also strengthened on forecasts that inventories at the US oil delivery hub for WTI in Cushing, Oklahoma fell 1.8 million barrels, or 6.2 per cent, through Tuesday, traders said, citing energy information provider Genscape.

The US dollar hit its highest level against a basket of other currencies since July 2017, up half a per cent on the day.

Brent has fallen about 8 per cent from last week's high above US$79 on emerging evidence of higher production from Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, as well as Russia and the United States.

The US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday domestic crude production reached a record 11 million bpd last week. The US has added nearly 1 million bpd in production since November, thanks to rapid increases in shale drilling.

A sharp jump in US crude oil inventories also added to the bearish tone in the market. They rose 5.8 million barrels last week, compared to a forecast for a decline of 3.6 million barrels.

REUTERS