Futures Movers: Oil ends higher as OPEC+ boosts output, U.S. crude inventories tumble

Concerns over supply remain, however, given OPEC+’s difficulties in meeting earlier production increases, analysts noted.

“Fortunately for the bull camp, OPEC+ has consistently underproduced relative to the OPEC+ production agreement,” while Indian oil output hit a 28-year low in its just completed fiscal year, noted analysts at Zaner. “With the net supply-side takeaway still bullish, demand views improved by the opening of Shanghai, less equity market anxiety, and a record Asian crude oil import tally last month, the markets should be able to find support relatively soon.”

Earlier Thursday, oil prices had dropped sharply after Financial Times reported that Saudi Arabia had told Western allies that it would raise production if it becomes apparent that global supply is facing a big drop in Russian output due to sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Citing five persons with knowledge of the matter, the report said those concerns have increased since the EU recently imposing a ban on Russian oil by sea. The sources said that Saudi Arabia sees a tight market, but no major shortages for now, though a ramping up of China’s economy as it recovers from the latest COVID outbreak could pressure supplies further. Easing lockdowns in China’s biggest cities have provided support for oil prices recently.

Hitting oil prices earlier this week was a report in The Wall Street Journal that some members of the group exempting Russia from its production targets. Russia remained part of the production agreement after Thursday’s meeting.

The White House welcomed the OPEC+ decision.

“We recognize the role of Saudi Arabia as the chair of OPEC+ and its largest producer in achieving this consensus amongst the group members,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, in a statement. “We also recognize efforts and positive contributions of U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates), Kuwait, and Iraq. The United States will continue to use all tools at our disposal to address energy prices pressures.”

Separately, the Associated Press reported that President Joe Biden was considering a face-to-face meeting with de facto Saudi ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Biden denounced the Saudi royal family in 2019 after the 2018 killing and dismemberment of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi,

Read: Will OPEC+ fill the gap as Russian oil output falls? Don’t count on it.

Investors will also be keeping an eye on U.S. supply data from the Energy Information Administration, scheduled for release at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The report was delayed by a day due to Monday’s Memorial Day holiday.

Analysts and traders surveyed by The Wall Street Journal estimate U.S. oil inventories declined by 500,000 barrels for the week ended May 27. Gasoline stockpiles are expected to decrease by 100,000 barrels from the previous week, while distillate inventories are expected to rise by 800,000 barrels.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, said late Wednesday that its weekly data showed a 1.2-million-barrel drop in crude supplies, a 256,000-barrel fall in gasoline stocks and an 858,000-barrel increase in distillate inventories, according to a source.