May 20, 2024 11:24 GMT
Mid-Day Oil Summary: Crude Eases Back
OIL
Crude prices have reversed some earlier gains to be in modest losses. The market is waiting for clarity of future OPEC+ output and further economic indicators from the US and China that could imply improving demand.
- Brent JUL 24 down 0.2% at 83.81$/bbl
- WTI JUN 24 down 0.2% at 79.86$/bbl
- Residents evacuated by wildfires surrounding parts of Canada’s Fort McMurray last week were allowed to return home on Saturday.
- No progress has been made with international companies to resume exports from the Kurdistan region of Iraq according to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
- Crude oil floating storage held on tankers for at least 7 days rose to 69.27mn bbls as of May 17 according to Vortexa – 15% higher than the week prior.
- China's crude stockpiles increased in April as slower refinery processing outweighed a decline in imports, according to Reuters calculations based on official data.
- China imported crude oil from Venezuela for the third straight month according to official customs data while imports from Russia fell back after a surged to a near record high in March.
- Russian tankers have moved back to oil transfers in the Laconian Gulf off Greece now that Greek naval drills have come to an end.
202 words