Oil Prices Hit Five-Month Low Due to High US Exports and OPEC+ Doubts

Oil prices have dropped to the lowest levels seen since July. The main reasons behind this are a significant increase in oil exports from the United States and growing uncertainty about whether OPEC+ can carry out its planned production cuts.

Observers are closely watching the US crude oil stockpiles and exports, which are on track to reach nearly 6 million barrels a day, according to estimates from tracking firms that monitor ship movements. This surge in exports has raised worries about too much oil flooding the market.

Adding to the concerns, a report revealed that inventories, or the amount of oil stored, went up last week both in the US and at a key storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. However, some traders are doubtful about the accuracy of these reports, as most Bloomberg users predict that inventories will actually go down. This skepticism has contributed to a drop in West Texas Intermediate oil prices, which fell below $71.

Highlighting the market's weakness, Saudi Arabia has responded by cutting its official selling prices to Asia by the largest margin since February. This reduction in oil prices reflects worries about having too much oil available.

The decline in oil prices comes after OPEC+ announced deeper cuts in oil production last week. This shows how challenging it is for the group to balance the oil market during the first quarter. The drop in oil futures, nearly 25% from their highest point in late September, is driven by concerns that countries outside of OPEC will produce more oil than the world needs.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak suggested on Tuesday that OPEC+ might need to take more actions if last week's agreement doesn't do enough to balance the market. In another related development, Russian President Vladimir Putin began a rare trip to the UAE, where discussions about global oil dynamics with leaders in the region are expected. This underscores the ongoing uncertainties in the oil market.

Also Read: OPEC+ Approves Additional Oil Output Cuts, Impacting Global Prices