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Oil rises on United States unrefined storage draw, China imports show year-on-year gain

Oil costs rose on Thursday as falling U.S. crude inventories amid rising refinery intake and a yearonyear boost in Chinese imports last month supported greater demand expectations for the world's 2 biggest crude consuming nations.

Brent unrefined futures for July increased 27 cents, or 0.3%,. to $83.85 a barrel by 0650 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate. crude for June was up 34 cents, or 0.4% to $79.33 per. barrel.

Oil markets were buoyed by a larger-than-expected attract. the U.S. stock data. The improved China's trade balance data. contributed to the advantage momentum, stated Tina Teng, an independent. market analyst, including that crude prices might continue to track. financial aspects looking ahead.

Unrefined stocks in the U.S., the world's most significant oil user,. dropped recently by 1.4 million barrels to 459.5 million. barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration,. more than analysts' expectations for a 1.1 million-barrel draw. Stockpiles fell as refinery activity increased by 307,000. barrels per day (bpd) in the period.

This triggered gasoline stocks to swell by more than 900,000. barrels to 228 million barrels, while extract stockpiles. including diesel and heating oil increased by 600,000 barrels to. 116.4 million barrels.

The market brushed off the builds in fuel and. distillate fuels as refiners ramp up for the upcoming driving. season, experts at ANZ Research stated in a note on Thursday.

Deliveries of crude in April to China, the world's most significant. oil importer, were 44.72 million metric loads, or about 10.88. million bpd, according to China's customizeds information launched on. Thursday. That was up 5.45% from the relatively low 10.4 million. bpd imported in April 2023.

Hopes for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict Gaza kept. oil prices from moving higher. The U.S. said previously in the week. that negotiations should have the ability to close the spaces between. Israel and Hamas.

While there may be some short-term relief for oil costs,. it may be challenging to return to April's high above the $90 per. barrel level, where geopolitical stress were at its peak,. stated Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.

(source: Reuters)