Friday, April 25, 2025
4:45 PM
Doha,Qatar
An oil production platform at Iran’s Soroush oil fields

Oil bounces as Iran signals support for OPEC freeze action

* Iran sending "positive signals" on output freeze -sources
* Iraq continues to press for higher production
* Analysts remain sceptical of meaningful output cuts
* Goldman sticks to "weak fundamentals" and $45-$50 forecast
 

Oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Tuesday, reversing early losses, after Reuters reported Iran was sending positive signals that it may support joint OPEC action to prop up the market.
Iran, the third-largest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has been boosting output since the lifting of Western sanctions in January.
Although it has not said if it will join an effort to curb production at a meeting of OPEC and other producers in September, Tehran appears to be more willing to reach an understanding on the matter, sources in OPEC and the oil industry told Reuters.
Brent crude was up 80 cents, or 1.7 percent, at $49.96 a barrel by 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 GMT). It had fallen 1.4 percent earlier.
US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 67 cents, or 1.4 percent, to $48.08, after reaching a session low of $46.59.
"Iran is reaching its pre-sanctions production level soon and after that it can cooperate with the others," said a source familiar with Iranian thinking after a visit by Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino to Tehran.
A two-year long selloff in oil has severely hurt the economies of Venezuela, Iraq and Nigeria and they are more anxious to boost crude prices than OPEC producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, that are more keen in protecting market share. Despite rebounding this year, oil still trades at less than half of mid-2014 levels of above $100.
Del Pino last week toured oil-producing countries to convince OPEC for a production freeze after a similar plan failed in April.
Many analysts remain sceptical of the effort.
"The current price level of well over $40 does not provide non-OPEC producers with any kind of motivation to support oil prices by cutting or maintaining current production levels," said Tamas Varga, analyst at London-based energy broker PVM.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraq had not reached its full oil exports potential as his government urged foreign oil firms in the country to raise output.
The Iraqi call comes on top of worries about burgeoning Chinese fuel exports, more Iraqi and Nigerian crude shipments and a rising US oil rig count.
Goldman Sachs forecast $45-$50 for a barrel of oil through summer 2017, maintaining its view of weak fundamentals in the near term.
The market was awaiting US oil stockpile data, due from trade group American Petroleum Institute (API) at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT) and official government data on Wednesday. Analysts polled by Reuters forecast crude stocks fell 500,000 barrels last week.

Comments
  • There are no comments.

Add Comments

B1Details

Latest News

SPORT

Canada's youngsters set stage for new era

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.

1:43 PM February 26 2017
TECHNOLOGY

A payment plan for universal education

Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education

11:46 AM December 14 2016
CULTURE

10-man Lekhwiya leave it late to draw Rayyan 2-2

Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions

7:10 AM November 26 2016
ARABIA

Yemeni minister hopes 48-hour truce will be maintained

The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged

10:30 AM November 27 2016
ARABIA

QM initiative aims to educate society on arts and heritage

Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.

10:55 PM November 27 2016
ARABIA

Qatar, Indonesia to boost judicial ties

The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.

10:30 AM November 28 2016
ECONOMY

Sri Lanka eyes Qatar LNG to fuel power plants in ‘clean energy shift’

Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.

10:25 AM November 12 2016
B2Details
C7Details