Oil Edges Higher as Producers Move Toward Deal
(Bloomberg) -- Oil resumed gains on signs the world’s biggest producers are moving toward a deal to call off their price war and cut output as the coronavirus eviscerates energy demand around the world.
Futures in New York rose toward $27 a barrel, resuming a rally interrupted by an 8% decline on Monday. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette held a “productive discussion” over the phone with his Saudi counterpart Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the U.S. government said. Crude was also buoyed by improved sentiment in broader financial markets after the reported death tolls in some of the virus hotspots in Europe showed signs of easing.
A virtual meeting of producers from the OPEC+ alliance and beyond -- which has been delayed once already -- is tentatively scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Vienna. A gathering of G-20 energy ministers is set to follow on Friday to discuss wider contributions to a production agreement.
While the talks still face significant obstacles, not least whether the U.S. will participate, the bigger question is whether any deal will be enough given the extent to which the virus is destroying demand. In another sign of the growing glut, industry data provider Genscape Inc. reported a 5.8 million-barrel rise in crude inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, last week, which would be the largest in data going back to 2004 if confirmed by official figures due Wednesday.
“I think there is a better than 50% chance this time that OPEC+ will deliver a cut,” said Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights in Singapore. It’s likely to be up to 10 million barrels a day, and while that won’t offset all the demand loss it could push Brent into the $40s, she said.
West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose 2.7% to $26.78 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 7:34 a.m. in London. The contract has rallied 31% so far in April after plunging 54% in March.
Brent for June delivery added 2.6% to $33.92 a barrel on the ICE Futures Europe exchange after dropping 3.1% Monday. The global benchmark traded at a $3.03 premium to WTI for the same month.
An effective deal will require all of the three top producers -- the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Russia -- to participate. While Riyadh and Moscow are set to cut output significantly, according to people familiar with the negotiations, Washington is more likely to offer up gradual reductions. The G-20 may be a more acceptable forum to bring on board the U.S. and other big producers outside the OPEC+ alliance, such as Canada and Brazil.
Meanwhile, some old-guard Texas oil drillers are urging state regulators to cut output. The largest U.S. oil-producing state hasn’t restricted crude production in almost 50 years but a growing chorus of explorers and related industries are advocating just such a move.
To contact the reporters on this story:
Elizabeth Low in Singapore at elow39@bloomberg.net;
James Thornhill in Sydney at jthornhill3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Serene Cheong at scheong20@bloomberg.net
Andrew Janes, Ben Sharples
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Generated by readers, the comments included herein do not reflect the views and opinions of Rigzone. All comments are subject to editorial review. Off-topic, inappropriate or insulting comments will be removed.
- Japan Failing to Meet Corporate Demand for Clean Power: Amazon
- Russian Navy Enters Warship-Crowded Red Sea Amid Houthi Attacks
- Oman Sees Increasing Ship-to-Ship Transfers of Russian Oil Bound for India
- Ithaca Energy Studies Deal for Eni's UK Upstream Assets
- New China Climate Chief Says Fossil Fuels Must Keep a Role
- Blockchain Demands Attention in Oil and Gas
- Macquarie Sees USA Oil Production Exiting 2024 at 14MM Barrels Per Day
- Oman Sees Increasing Ship-to-Ship Transfers of Russian Oil Bound for India
- CNPC Opens Sea-Land Oil Storage and Transport Facility in Bangladesh
- US Govt Makes Record Investment of $6B for Industrial Decarbonization
- Perenco Still Searching for Missing Person After Platform Incident
- Eni, Fincantieri, RINA Ink Deal on Maritime Decarbonization
- Falcon Oil Declares Commercial Flow Test Results for Shenandoah Well
- Oil Falls as US Inventories Increase
- Czech Utility CEZ Bucks Weaker Prices, Demand to Log Record Annual Profit
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call
- India Halts Russia Oil Supplies From Sanctioned Tanker Giant
- Centcom, Dryad Outline Recent Moves Around Red Sea Region
- DOI Announces Proposal for Second GOM Offshore Wind Auction
- PetroChina Set to Receive Venezuelan Oil
- Czech Conglomerate to Buy Major Stake in Gasnet for $917MM
- US DOE Offers $44MM in Funding to Boost Clean Power Distribution
- Oil Settles Lower as Stronger Dollar Offsets Tighter Market
- UK Grid Operator Receives Aid to Advance Rural Decarbonization
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Major Oilfield Discovery
- VIDEO: Missile Attack Kills Crew Transiting Gulf of Aden
- Norway Regulator Blasts Proposal to Halt New Oil and Gas Permits
- Chinese Mega Company Makes Another Major Oilfield Discovery
- What Is the Biggest Risk to Offshore Oil and Gas Personnel in 2024?
- Vessel Sinks in Red Sea After Missile Strike
- Exxon Rights in Stabroek Do Not Apply to Hess Merger with Chevron: Hess
- Analysts Reveal Latest Oil Price Outlook Following OPEC+ Cut Extension
- Equinor Makes Discovery in North Sea
- Standard Chartered Reiterates $94 Brent Call