Oil Edges Higher After Saudi Arabia and Russia Curb Supplies
(Bloomberg) -- Oil edged higher as traders assessed the latest salvo from OPEC+ linchpins Saudi Arabia and Russia to prop up prices by curbing supply.
West Texas Intermediate rose above $70 a barrel, clawing back some of the 1.2% loss in the previous session even as the cuts were announced. Saudi Arabia said that it will prolong a unilateral 1 million barrel a day supply reduction into August, a move traders had expected. Also, Russia announced a fresh reduction, while Algeria planned to make more modest curbs.
The latest price action echoes recent patterns after previously announced cuts, but has been even swifter this week. The lift from a surprise OPEC+ curtailment in early April lasted for about a month, while the boost following a unilateral cut by Saudi Arabia in June disappeared after just a day.
![](https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/iDyto2_yQmSw/v2/-1x-1.png)
Oil has lost 11% this year despite repeated efforts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to buttress prices — and take the fight to short sellers betting on losses — by curtailing output. The drop has been driven by a souring macroeconomic outlook in the US, China and Europe, as well as still-healthy supplies from Russia and other nations including Iran.
“It was not too surprising that Saudi Arabia decided to roll over its additional, voluntary cuts,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy for ING Groep NV in Singapore. “Fundamentals are not having as much influence on price direction as one would expect. Instead, the uncertain macro outlook is what the market is focused on.”
Although OPEC+ supplies have been pared back, the US oil benchmark remains in contango, a bearish pattern in which near-term prices are cheaper than those further out. WTI’s prompt spread — the difference between its two nearest contracts — was 11 cents a barrel in contango compared with 5 cents in backwardation, the opposite pattern, two months ago.
Still, there’s widespread expectation among banks that the crude market should show signs of tightening up this half, including from Standard Chartered Plc. The shift may be driven by the moves from OPEC+, a US push to start replenishing the nation’s depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and higher energy consumption in major Asian importers China and India.
![](https://assets.bwbx.io/images/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/ivRagibsRJaQ/v3/-1x-1.jpg)
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.
KEEPING THE ENERGY INDUSTRY CONNECTED
Subscribe to our newsletter and get the best of Energy Connects directly to your inbox each week.
By subscribing, you agree to the processing of your personal data by dmg events as described in the Privacy Policy.
More oil news
![BloomburgMedia_SFX15PDWLU6800_01-07-2024_08-58-33_638553888000000000.jpg](/media/u0geqquv/bloomburgmedia_sfx15pdwlu6800_01-07-2024_08-58-33_638553888000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133642979132800000&format=webp)
Oil Gains With Focus on China’s Economy and Geopolitical Risks
Jul 01, 2024![BloomburgMedia_SFWNTDDWRGG000_01-07-2024_09-00-46_638553888000000000.jpg](/media/xbzlg5gk/bloomburgmedia_sfwntddwrgg000_01-07-2024_09-00-46_638553888000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133642980469800000&format=webp)
Saudi Reserves Jump to 18-Month High Thanks to Aramco Dividends
Jul 01, 2024![BloomburgMedia_SFUQSRDWRGG000_30-06-2024_06-00-10_638553024000000000.jpg](/media/zdchwcsk/bloomburgmedia_sfuqsrdwrgg000_30-06-2024_06-00-10_638553024000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133642008106230000&format=webp)
Citgo Auction Planner Asks Delay of Sale Hearing Until September
Jun 29, 2024![BloomburgMedia_SFQDEFT1UM0W00_28-06-2024_07-22-19_638551296000000000.jpg](/media/wuyj2iv5/bloomburgmedia_sfqdeft1um0w00_28-06-2024_07-22-19_638551296000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133640329392130000&format=webp)
Oil Stuck in Tightest Trading Range Since 2021 Ahead of US Data
Jun 28, 2024![BloomburgMedia_SFOGH2T1UM0W00_27-06-2024_06-11-53_638550432000000000.jpg](/media/ostdbiro/bloomburgmedia_sfogh2t1um0w00_27-06-2024_06-11-53_638550432000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133639423131800000&format=webp)
Oil Stuck in Narrow Range Ahead of Key US Economic Figures
Jun 27, 2024![Oil Rig (2)](/media/cyvbjs40/oil-rig.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132938805898570000&format=webp)
Lamprell delivers second jackup rig for Saudi market
Jun 27, 2024![Totalenergies](/media/41ojyade/totalenergies.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132881916816700000&format=webp)
TotalEnergies to sell UK West of Shetland assets to the Prax Group
Jun 27, 2024![BloomburgMedia_SFMMAXT0AFB400_26-06-2024_06-00-10_638549568000000000.jpg](/media/00rfanvg/bloomburgmedia_sfmmaxt0afb400_26-06-2024_06-00-10_638549568000000000.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133638552104000000&format=webp)
Oil Steadies as Industry Report Points to Rising US Stockpiles
Jun 26, 2024![Zephyr](/media/metnmkpp/zephyr.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=133638742860270000&format=webp)
Zephyr Energy advances State 36-2R well testing and secures new financing
Jun 26, 2024![Totalenergies (3)](/media/2cjewaqv/totalenergies.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=240&height=135&rnd=132844703590900000&format=webp)
TotalEnergies secures majority stake in offshore block in the coast of São Tomé and Príncipe
Jun 26, 2024![Setting the pace in decarbonising steel production-1863174552](/media/2iol3l0c/setting-the-pace-in-decarbonising-steel-production-1863174552.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133618761586730000&format=webp)
Setting the pace in decarbonising steel production
Jun 03, 2024![BCG on making energy demand more efficient and sustainable-1863225347](/media/ogfnknhe/bcg-on-making-energy-demand-more-efficient-and-sustainable-1863225347.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133618869575430000&format=webp)
BCG on making energy demand more efficient and sustainable
Jun 03, 2024![OPEC's output cut extension: analysing the global impact-1863248865](/media/5ybfzlqp/opec-s-output-cut-extension-analysing-the-global-impact-1863248865.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133618869567770000&format=webp)
OPEC's output cut extension: analysing the global impact
Jun 03, 2024![Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks-1859882229](/media/qlacaiww/navigating-the-trading-seas-exploring-the-significance-of-benchmarks-1859882229.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133613577584600000&format=webp)
Navigating the trading seas: exploring the significance of benchmarks
May 27, 2024![Driving sustainability: the power of energy policies-1857914550](/media/0v0blfir/driving-sustainability-the-power-of-energy-policies-1857914550.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133610085546170000&format=webp)
Driving sustainability: the power of energy policies
May 23, 2024![Dr Carole Nakhle Thumbnail](/media/gqrpjths/dr-carole-nakhle_thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133542056370600000&format=webp)
More women in energy vital to the industry’s success
Mar 06, 2024![Vandana Hari Thumbnail](/media/gz3dyktl/vandana-hari-thumbnail.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133511540022930000&format=webp)
India’s energy sector presents lucrative opportunities for global companies
Jan 31, 2024![OIL INDIA Thumbnail (1)](/media/oddlww2x/oil-india-thumbnail-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133506537128730000&format=webp)
Oil India charts the course to ambitious energy growth
Jan 25, 2024![DNV Thumbnail](/media/chkphnjn/dnv-thumbnail.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133491856590700000&format=webp)
Maritime sector is stepping up to the challenges of decarbonisation
Jan 08, 2024![BCG FERDINAND Thumbnail 01](/media/mhngslc2/bcg_ferdinand_thumbnail-01.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133464907617530000&format=webp)
COP28: turning transition challenges into clean energy opportunities
Dec 08, 2023Partner content
![Dr Klaus](/media/4eyh2dr0/dr-klaus.jpg?center=0.3953747239980292,0.50683017007953435&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517897092430000&format=webp)
Ebara Elliott Energy offers a range of products for a sustainable energy economy
![ESSAR](/media/5uafghtj/essar.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133524466961070000&format=webp)
Essar outlines how its CBM contribution is bolstering for India’s energy landscape
![HNC 7611 V2](/media/0dqbya15/hnc_7611_v2.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133517899616530000&format=webp)
Positioning petrochemicals market in the emerging circular economy
![Spectrum](/media/esvgoqpk/spectrum.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133524457491730000&format=webp)
Navigating markets and creating significant regional opportunities with Spectrum
![HEXAGON JOSEPH](/media/ybvjzlwk/hexagon-joseph.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=540&height=300&rnd=133473727370670000&format=webp)