Oil slips as Russia lifts supplies, jet fuel demand stirs caution
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Oil prices dipped on Tuesday due in part to the prospect of rising supply from Russia, slower-than-expected downstream demand in sectors such as jet fuel, and cautious trading ahead of the Fed's decision on U.S. interest rates.
The Brent crude oil futures contract for May delivery slipped 15 cents to $86.74 a barrel as at 0433 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices fell 14 cents to $82.02. The WTI April contract, with expires tomorrow, fell 15 cents to $82.57.
Both benchmarks reached four-month highs in the previous session, buoyed by lower crude exports from Saudi Arabia and Iraq and signs of stronger demand and economic growth in China and the U.S.
Regarding Russia, supply concern stemming from increased exports following Ukrainian attacks on the country's oil infrastructure continued to pressure prices downward.
«Attacks will likely reduce Russian crude runs by up to 300 kbd (thousand barrels per day), in addition to scheduled maintenance closures… Lower primary runs, however, would lead to higher crude oil exports, helping Russia to simultaneously achieve output cuts while keeping exports flat,» JP Morgan analysts wrote in a client note.
Russia will increase oil exports through its western ports in March by almost 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) against a monthly plan for 2.15 million bpd, while on a daily basis, shipments will increase by 10% compared to its initial plan for March, Reuters calculations showed.
Prices were weighed down by uncertainty about how U.S. interest rates would pan out ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting on March 20 at 1800 GMT.
«The market may be in consolidation mode awaiting signals on rate cuts from this week's FOMC meeting,» said DBS Bank energy sector
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