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Oil prices down 2% despite resumption in Hormuz shippings, even after vessel hits near Oman

Crude prices fell?2% Friday, and are headed for steep weekly losses amid eased supply concerns. More oil tankers have left the Strait of Hormuz as more stranded vessels leave.

Brent crude futures dropped $1.47 or 1.95% to $73.79 per barrel at 0421 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was down $1.44 or 2% to $70.48 per barrel.

Shipping data from LSEG revealed that Saudi Aramco, the world's largest refiner, resumed oil loading at its Ras-Tanura terminal in?Gulf on Friday after a nearly four-month halt. The data revealed that two Very Large Crude Carrier were loading crude at the terminal, while another was waiting nearby. Each VLCC can load 2 million barrels.

According to June Goh of Sparta Commodities, senior oil analyst, "there is a general selling off as the market reacts?to the increased flows leaving the Strait of Hormuz. China has not yet picked up on crude demand."

Both benchmark contracts rose more than 2% Thursday, after an unidentified projectile hit a cargo ship near Oman. This prompted the U.N. shipping agency to suspend their voluntary evacuation scheme.

Two U.S. officials said that Iran shot at the cargo ship when it tried to pass through strait. Iranian authorities have said that the safety of vessels traveling outside of designated Hormuz routes cannot be guaranteed.

Brent crude and WTI oil are both expected to lose around 8% in the coming week.

The data showed that the crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest level this week since the U.S./Israeli conflict began with Iran in February. A ceasefire agreement reopened the waterway and concerns over how long it would remain open also increased?trade.

Overall, however, the traffic is still a fraction of what it was before the conflict began on February 28, when 125 ships passed through the strait every day.

"A large part of the increase is due to previously stranded ships leaving the Persian Gulf. The vessel flows into the Gulf are much lower. This suggests that after stranded ships have been removed, we may see a reduction in the flow of vessels," ING analysts wrote a note.

The earthquakes that occurred in Venezuela on Thursday have also caused supply concerns.

Workers have conducted preliminary assessments of Venezuela's oil, gas, and refining infrastructure. They found that the damage was limited, since the country's largest output regions, refineries and pipelines, and terminals were 'far away' from the worst-hit areas.

Sources said that despite the lack of electricity, it is doubtful whether oil production can be maintained at its pre-quake level, which was close to 1.2m barrels a day. Reporting by Mohi Nairayan in New Delhi; Sam Li and Lewis Jackson, in Beijing; editing by Kevin Buckland

(source: Reuters)