Oil steady as traders await Opec+ decision

Tokyo/Singapore — Oil moved in a narrow range on Wednesday as investors turned cautious ahead of a crucial Opec+ meeting to decide output policy in the next months, while a supply disruption in the Black Sea provided a floor for prices.

Brent crude futures dipped 3c to $81.65 a barrel at 3.38am GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 12c, or 0.2%, at $76.53 a barrel.

Both benchmarks gained about 2% on Tuesday on the possibility oil cartel Opec and allies such as Russia (Opec+), will extend or deepen supply cuts, as well as concerns over Kazakh oil output and a weaker dollar.

“Investors covered short positions ahead of the Opec+ meeting amid worries over supply disruption from Kazakhstan,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, a unit of Nissan Securities.

“All eyes are on Opec+ policy and demand outlook towards the end of this year, but WTI is expected to hover around $76, with a range of $5 each above and below, for a while unless Opec+ significantly expands production cuts,” he said.

Opec+ is due to hold an online ministerial meeting on Thursday to discuss 2024 production targets, after delaying the meeting from November 26.

The talks will be difficult and a rollover of the previous agreement is possible rather than deeper production cuts, four Opec+ sources said.

“If they [Opec+] fail to come to a preliminary deal, we cannot rule out the risk that the meeting is further delayed, which would likely put some downward pressure on oil prices,” said Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey, analysts from ING bank, in a note to clients.

“The outlook for the oil market in 2024 will largely depend on Opec+ policy.”

The premium on front-month loading Brent contracts over ones loading in six months climbed to a two-week high, suggesting a build-up of concerns about supply deficits in the long-term.

A severe storm in the Black Sea region has disrupted up to 2-million barrels a day of oil exports from Kazakhstan and Russia, according to state’s officials and port agent data, fuelling concerns of short-term supply tightness.

Kazakhstan’s largest oilfields are cutting combined daily oil output by 56% from November 27, the Kazakh energy ministry said.

Oil also found support from the dollar’s weakness and a drop in US crude inventories.

The dollar languished near a three-month trough against its major peers on Wednesday as expectations mount the Federal Reserve could begin lowering rates by early 2024.

A weaker dollar typically supports oil prices as it makes oil cheaper for those holding other currencies.

Meanwhile, US crude oil inventories fell by 817,000 barrels last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures.

Eight analysts polled by Reuters estimated on average that crude inventories fell by about 900,000 barrels in the week to November 24. Weekly US government data on stockpiles is due on Wednesday. 

Reuters