Crude futures closed higher on Wednesday (June 7) as the market responded positively to Saudi Arabia’s announcement of significant oil production cuts. This move helped counterbalance the negative impact of increased US fuel stocks and disappointing Chinese export data.
WTI crude futures saw a notable increase of 79 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $72.53 per barrel. Meanwhile, BRENT crude futures rose by 66 cents, or 0.9%, closing at $76.95 per barrel.
The market rallied after Saudi Arabia revealed its decision to reduce oil production by an additional 1 million barrels per day (bpd), bringing the output down to 9 million bpd starting from July. This is a significant cut from the 10 million bpd produced in May and marks one of the largest production reductions in recent years.
Initially, the market faced pressure due to reports of a decline in China’s exports by 7.5% in May, accompanied by a 4.5% drop in imports, resulting in a 16.1% decrease in China’s trade surplus, which stood at $65.81 billion. This trade surplus level is the lowest observed since April 2022.
Additionally, the market received negative sentiment from a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which indicated a 2.7 million barrel increase in gasoline inventories last week. Distillate stocks, including heating oil and diesel, also rose by 5.1 million barrels, surpassing analysts’ expectations by 1 million barrels.
However, there was a silver lining as US crude inventories experienced a decrease of 500,000 barrels during the same week. This reduction matched analysts’ expectations, mitigating concerns to some extent.
The oil market remains highly sensitive to global supply and demand dynamics. Saudi Arabia’s decision to implement substantial production cuts indicates their commitment to maintaining a balanced market and supporting oil prices. The impact of this production cut, combined with other market factors, has contributed to the recent surge in oil prices.
As the market continues to digest and react to various economic indicators and geopolitical developments, analysts will closely monitor the implementation and effectiveness of Saudi Arabia’s production cuts. The ongoing fluctuations in oil prices will have implications for both producers and consumers, impacting energy markets and the global economy as a whole.
The Spot Market is Open
Thursday, June 8, 2023
| Energy Updated at | USD Price | Change | %Change |
| Crude Oil 09.45 | 72.36 | -0.17 | -0.23% |