Oil drops again on doubts over demand rebound

TOKYO: Oil prices extended their losses on Tuesday as concerns about the fragile state of the global recovery in demand for crude and fuels were heightened by data showing China's oil imports fell in May.

Brent crude was down 49 cents, or 0.7%, at $71.00 a barrel by 0643 GMT, after declining 0.6% overnight. US oil was off by 44 cents, or 0.6%, at $68.79 a barrel, having dropped by 0.6% in the previous session.

"Chinese oil imports at a five-month low ... would tend to confirm weakness in the Asia market," said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizhuo Securities.

China's crude imports were down 14.6% in May, from a high level a year earlier, with daily arrivals at the lowest level this year, as maintenance at refineries limited demand for oil purchases.

Crude prices have risen in recent weeks, with Brent up by nearly 40% this year and WTI gaining more than that, amid expectations of demand to return as some countries succeed in vaccinating populations against COVID-19.

Restraint on supply by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies has also helped buttress prices.

But major oil importers like India have been going through waves of infections that continue to threaten the expected pickup in global demand in the second half of this year.

"Crude prices are beginning to struggle as demand in Europe and India faces headwinds," said Avtar Sandu, senior manager commodities at Phillip Futures in Singapore.