SINGAPORE: Oil prices inched up on Wednesday as investors considered supply risks after the US barred Chevron from exporting crude from Venezuela under a new asset authorization, though expectations of more output from OPEC+ continued to limit gains.
Brent crude futures rose 7 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $64.16 a barrel by 08:40 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $60.98 a barrel.
The Trump administration has issued a new authorization for US-major Chevron that would allow it to keep assets in Venezuela but not to export oil or expand its activities, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
“The loss of Chevron’s Venezuazelan barrels in the US will leave refiners short and thus relying more on Middle Eastern crude,” Westpac’s head of commodity and carbon strategy Robert Rennie wrote in a note.
US President Donald Trump had revoked the previous license on February 26.
In recent years, the licenses to Chevron and other foreign companies supported a slight recovery in sanction-hit Venezuelan oil output to about 1 million barrels per day.
However, price gains were capped on Wednesday amid expectations that OPEC+ will decide to increase output at a meeting this week.
A full meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together known as OPEC+, is scheduled for Wednesday, though market watchers expect no change to their policy of increasing output.
A July output hike could be decided on Saturday when eight members of the group hold talks, according to sources.
“Oil prices have moved only marginally in the last couple of sessions as the industry largely braces for an oversupplied second half of the year,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.
Sachdeva added that OPEC members’ failure to comply with production quotas and Trump’s trade policies negatively impact global oil demand.
The market also found some support after Trump said earlier this week he was weighing new sanctions on Russia.
“This increases the risk of further sanctions against Russia, putting Russian energy flows at risk,” said ING commodities strategists on Wednesday.
Oil Updates — prices rise on Venezuelan supply risks but OPEC+ output caps gains
https://arab.news/br4nv
Oil Updates — prices rise on Venezuelan supply risks but OPEC+ output caps gains
- Brent crude futures rose 7 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $64.16 a barrel
- US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 9 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $60.98 a barrel
Saudi finance ministry, IMF to launch AlUla conference for emerging market economies
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will launch on Sunday the second edition of the annual AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies.
Launched first in 2025, the conference this year brings together economic decision-makers, finance ministers, central bank governors, leaders of international financial institutions, and a select group of experts and specialists from around the world.
The conference, which will be held on Feb. 8 and 9, is going to highlight the rapid transformations occurring in the global economy and the challenges and opportunities they present for emerging market economies, particularly in the areas of international trade, monetary and financial systems, and macroeconomic policies.
