Oil rises on supply risks, OPEC+ output increase seen
Oil prices rose more than 1% on Wednesday, with the U.S. barring Chevron from exporting crude from Venezuela and production shut-ins from Canada, while markets anticipated an expected production increase from OPEC+.
Brent crude futures rose 93 cents, or 1.5%, to $65.02 a barrel by 1300 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1, or 1.6%, to stand at $61.89 a barrel.
The Trump administration has issued a new authorisation for U.S.-major Chevron that would let it keep assets in Venezuela but not export oil or expand activities, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
Later on Wednesday, a full meeting is scheduled of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together known as OPEC+.
However, a July output hike could be decided on Saturday when eight members of the group hold talks, sources have said.
The coming demand for the summer driving season is significant, and with non-OPEC+ crude output flat in the first half of the year, coupled with risks of Canadian wildfires hurting supply, the call on crude is stronger from OPEC+, said Janiv Shah, vice president of oil commodity markets analysis at Rystad Energy.
Goldman Sachs analysts see the group of eight keeping production steady after the July hike on new projects entering the market later this year, slowing economic growth and a build-up of oil stocks.
Source: Reuters
