Easing of coronavirus-induced by authorities in Beijing are likely to boost demand for oil, with falling Russian output adding further support
18 May 2022 - 15:18
byRowena Edwards
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Investment holding company HCI holds a 10% stake in an oil rich block off the coast of Namibia Picture: REUTERS
London — Oil prices rose on Wednesday on expectations that easing Covid-19 restrictions in China will boost demand and as supply concerns grew.
Brent crude was up $1.24, or 1.1%, at $113.17 a barrel at 09.21am GMT, while West Texas Intermediate climbed $1.69, or 1.5%, to $114.09 a barrel, reversing some of the previous session’s losses.
Hopes of further lockdown easing in China boosted expectations for a recovery in demand. The country’s authorities allowed 864 of Shanghai’s financial institutions to resume work, sources said on Wednesday, a day after the Chinese city achieved a milestone of three consecutive days with no new Covid-19 cases outside quarantine zones.
The market also saw support from rising supply concerns. Russian crude output in April fell by almost 9% from the previous month, an internal Opec+ report showed on Tuesday, as Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine hit the top oil producer.
The price rise is being capped by reports that the US is planning to relax sanctions against Venezuela and allow Chevron to negotiate oil licences with Venezuela’s national producer.
“Though this will bring little relief to the market in the short term, it would nonetheless be a first step towards ensuring that more oil could reach the market from currently sanctioned countries,” Commerzbank analyst Barbara Lambrecht said.
The EU’s failure to persuade Hungary to lift its veto on a proposed embargo on Russian oil is adding price pressure, though some diplomats expect an agreement on a phased ban at a summit at the end of May.
And the European Commission will on Wednesday unveil a €210bn plan for how Europe can end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
“In the meantime, the oil market will likely take its cues from today’s EIA update concerning US oil stocks,” PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said.
US crude and petroleum stocks fell last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
For the economic outlook, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday said the central bank would ratchet up interest rates as high as needed to stifle inflation that he said threatened the foundation of the economy.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Oil prices rise on positive Covid news from China
Easing of coronavirus-induced by authorities in Beijing are likely to boost demand for oil, with falling Russian output adding further support
London — Oil prices rose on Wednesday on expectations that easing Covid-19 restrictions in China will boost demand and as supply concerns grew.
Brent crude was up $1.24, or 1.1%, at $113.17 a barrel at 09.21am GMT, while West Texas Intermediate climbed $1.69, or 1.5%, to $114.09 a barrel, reversing some of the previous session’s losses.
Hopes of further lockdown easing in China boosted expectations for a recovery in demand. The country’s authorities allowed 864 of Shanghai’s financial institutions to resume work, sources said on Wednesday, a day after the Chinese city achieved a milestone of three consecutive days with no new Covid-19 cases outside quarantine zones.
The market also saw support from rising supply concerns. Russian crude output in April fell by almost 9% from the previous month, an internal Opec+ report showed on Tuesday, as Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine hit the top oil producer.
The price rise is being capped by reports that the US is planning to relax sanctions against Venezuela and allow Chevron to negotiate oil licences with Venezuela’s national producer.
“Though this will bring little relief to the market in the short term, it would nonetheless be a first step towards ensuring that more oil could reach the market from currently sanctioned countries,” Commerzbank analyst Barbara Lambrecht said.
The EU’s failure to persuade Hungary to lift its veto on a proposed embargo on Russian oil is adding price pressure, though some diplomats expect an agreement on a phased ban at a summit at the end of May.
And the European Commission will on Wednesday unveil a €210bn plan for how Europe can end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
“In the meantime, the oil market will likely take its cues from today’s EIA update concerning US oil stocks,” PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said.
US crude and petroleum stocks fell last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
For the economic outlook, Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday said the central bank would ratchet up interest rates as high as needed to stifle inflation that he said threatened the foundation of the economy.
Reuters
Oil prices fall on fears of global recession
Oil rises as China eases strict Covid-19 containment measures
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