Audio By Carbonatix
Oil prices fell to seven-month lows on Tuesday after news of increases in supply by several key producers, a trend which has undermined attempts by OPEC and other producers to support the market through reduced output.
Benchmark Brent LCOc1 dropped $1.06 to a low of $45.85 a barrel, its weakest since Nov. 18, just before OPEC and other producers agreed to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months from January.
Brent was trading around $46.00, down 91 cents, by 1050 GMT.
The U.S. crude oil futures contract for July CLc1, which was due to expire later on Tuesday, fell 98 cents to a low of $43.22, its lowest since Nov. 14, before recovering to around $43.30.
Both benchmarks are down more than 15 percent since late May, when OPEC, Russia and other producers extended their limits on production until the end of March 2018.
"Recent data points are not encouraging," Morgan Stanley analysts said in a research note. "Identifiable oil inventories - both crude and product in the OECD, China and selected other non-OECD countries - increased at a rate of (about) 1 (million bpd) in Q1."
OPEC supplies jumped in May as output recovered in Libya and Nigeria, two countries exempt from the production reduction agreement.
Libya's oil production rose more than 50,000 bpd to 885,000 bpd after the state oil company settled a dispute with Germany's Wintershall, a Libyan source told Reuters.
Nigerian oil supply is also rising, industry figures show.
Exports of Nigeria's benchmark Bonny Light crude oil are set to reach 226,000 bpd in August, up from 164,000 bpd in July, loading program show.
"The increasing August export program in Nigeria and the jump in Libyan oil output should pressure oil prices further in the short term," said Tamas Varga, senior analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates.
"If we get bearish U.S. oil statistics this week, we could see a test of $45 on Brent," Varga said.
U.S. oil production has been rising quickly this year, feeding the global glut. Data on Friday showed a record 22nd consecutive week of increases in U.S. oil drilling rigs. [RIG/U]
But Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the oil market is heading in the right direction and just needs time to rebalance, the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday.
Latest Stories
-
No strain in Ghana–Israel ties despite global concerns — Israeli Ambassador
5 minutes -
Hindsight: Frimpong’s death, Chelsea’s poverty and GFA’s perpetual slumber
8 minutes -
Italian PM condemns ally Trump over ‘unacceptable’ Pope criticism
13 minutes -
Ex-Nigerian oil minister denies taking bribes
13 minutes -
Trump deletes post depicting him as Jesus-like figure after backlash
14 minutes -
AI was introduced to curb revenue leakages – Attah Issah defends policy
14 minutes -
NRSA lists five key risks linked to converted Toyota Voxy vehicles
15 minutes -
“We’re sorry” – Israeli Ambassador apologises for the bombing of Ghanaian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
19 minutes -
Agric Ministry signs landmark agro-industrial, fertilizer deal with Sentuo Group
28 minutes -
A walk through the regulatory framework around Trade License Plates (DV AND DP)
29 minutes -
Former CID boss sues National Security operative and media houses in GH¢10m defamation case
50 minutes -
Carlos Queiroz appointed Black Stars head coach for 2026 FIFA World Cup
1 hour -
‘Behind The Lens with Queen Liz’ explores polygamy in Islam and women’s rights
1 hour -
Calls to suspend Publican AI system premature – Awingobit
2 hours -
Viktoria Plzen coach hails transformed Prince Adu after standout display against Slavia Prague
2 hours