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Oil rises to multi-month highs on Russian supply issues

Oil costs increased to multimonth highs for the second straight session on Tuesday as traders assessed how Ukraine's current attacks on Russian refineries would impact international petroleum materials.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures acquired 75 cents, or 0.9%, to settle at $83.47 a barrel, the highest because Oct. 27. International benchmark Brent crude settled 0.6%. higher at $87.38 a barrel, the greatest because Oct. 31.

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. this year, with a minimum of seven refineries targeted by drones. simply this month. The attacks have shut down 7%, or around. 370,500 barrels daily, of Russian refining capacity, . computations show.

While lower refining activity has actually resulted in a boost in. Russian crude oil exports, it might also lead to petroleum. production cuts as the nation deals with storage restrictions, StoneX. energy analyst Alex Hodes stated.

Based on Hodes' estimations, the attacks on Russian. refineries could lead to a decline of around 350,000 bpd of. international petroleum supplies and boost U.S. crude prices by $3 per. barrel.

Even if the attacks do not result in a direct loss of Russian. unrefined supply, there is still a spillover effect for oil rates. from surging refined product margins, SEB Research analyst. Bjarne Schieldrop composed on Monday.

Oil gained support from decreasing unrefined exports from Saudi. Arabia and Iraq, in addition to signs of more powerful demand and. financial development in China and the U.S.

U.S. single-family homebuilding rebounded greatly in. February, the Commerce Department reported. Homebuilding could. boost economic growth, supporting oil demand.

Oil demand information unexpected on the favorable side and the. extension of the voluntary OPEC+ cuts up until completion of June have. supported costs, UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Brent will likely trade in an $80-90 per barrel variety this. year, with an end-June forecast of $86 per barrel, Staunovo. added.

U.S. petroleum stocks fell by 1.5 million barrels in the. week ended March 15, market sources stated citing American. Petroleum Institute figures. A survey of analysts expected. stocks to rise by about 10,000 barrels recently.

Main stockpile data from the U.S. Energy Info. Administration is due at 10:30 a.m. ET

on Wednesday.

(source: Reuters)