HOUSTON: Oil prices fell on Thursday after a report that OPEC+ is discussing a production increase for July, stoking concerns that global supply could exceed demand growth.
Brent futures fell 57 cents, or 0.88%, to $64.34 a barrel by 11:17 a.m. EDT (1517 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 53 cents, or 0.86%, at $61.04.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, are discussing whether to make another large output increase at their meeting on June 1, Bloomberg News reported.
An increase of 411,000 barrels per day for July is among the options under discussion, though no final agreement has been reached, the report said, citing delegates.
Reuters previously reported that the group planned to accelerate output increases and could bring back as much as 2.2 million bpd by November. OPEC+ has been in the process of unwinding production cuts, with additions to the market in May and June.
“We’re seeing the market reacting to evidence that OPEC is letting go of a strategy to defend price in favour of market share,” said Harry Tchiliguirian at Onyx Capital Group. “It’s a bit like taking off a Band-Aid; you do it in one fell swoop.” RBC Capital analyst Helima Croft said in a note on Wednesday that a 411,000-bpd increase from July is the “most likely outcome” from the meeting, primarily from Saudi Arabia.
“A key question will be whether the voluntary cut will be fully drawn down before the leaves turn brown in many parts of the world, in line with the original taper schedule,” she said.
Prices were already lower in the session after Energy Information Administration data released on Wednesday showed US crude and fuel inventories showed surprise stock builds last week as crude imports hit a six-week high and gasoline and distillate demand slipped. Crude inventories rose by 1.3 million barrels to 443.2 million barrels in the week ended May 16, the EIA said. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected a drawdown of 1.3 million barrels.
The EIA’s surprise stock builds will exert downward pressure on prices, particularly on WTI, said Emril Jamil at LSEG Oil Research, adding that this could further encourage more US exports to Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, a US oil license in Venezuela will expire on May 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on his personal X account late on Wednesday. US oil company Chevron’s license to operate in the country has been set to expire next week. “The pro-Maduro Biden oil license in #Venezuela will expire as scheduled next Tuesday May 27,” Rubio wrote.
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