Oil prices fell more than 2% on Friday after data showed US production rose last week just as OPEC exports hit a 2017 high, casting doubt on efforts by producers to curb oversupply.
Global benchmark Brent futures were down $1.07, or 2.2 %, at $47.04 a barrel, after falling to as low as $46.75, its weakest level in more than a week. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures traded at $44.40 a barrel, down $1.12 or 2.5 %. Their session low of $44.20 was also the lowest in over a week, CNBC reported.
“We are seeing some head scratching today. Following a sharp rally, which was mostly driven by short-covering, the failure of Brent to break back above $50 earlier in the week has once again given sellers appetite for sending it lower,” said Ole Hansen, the head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank. Weekly US government data showed on Thursday that US oil production rose 1% to 9.34 million barrels per day, correcting a drop in the previous week that was down to one-off maintenance and hurricane shutdowns.
The rise in US output coincides with exports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries climbing for a second consecutive month in June to the highest this year. Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country is cooperating with OPEC in a deal to stem oil production, said on Friday he wanted to continue cooperation with other countries to reduce price volatility.
The market largely ignored news from the US Energy Information Administration that US crude inventories fell by 6.3 million barrels in the week to June 30 to 502.9 million barrels, the lowest since January.
If OPEC was unable to balance the market, change would likely be forced on it by oil prices, said Morgan Stanley.
The US bank said a WTI price of $46-50 per barrel would likely prevent US production rising in the mid- to long-term, but “prices will need to be in the low $40s” for US output to fall significantly. Morgan Stanley said it expected WTI to remain below $50 until mid-2018.