Oil rises further over supply concerns

06 May Oil rises further over supply concerns

Oil prices climbed for a third straight session on Friday as worries about tightening supplies underpinned prices ahead of an impending European Union embargo on Russian oil.

Brent futures rose 88 cents, or 0.8%, to $111.78 a barrel by 0641 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 84 cents, or 0.8%, to $109.10 a barrel.

Brent and WTI are on track to rise for a second week in a row, buoyed by the EU’s proposal to phase out supplies of Russian crude oil in six months and refined products by the end of 2022. It would also ban all shipping and insurance services for transporting Russian oil. The plan still requires unanimous backing from the 27 countries in the bloc.

On supply, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and allied producers,  agreed as expected to another modest monthly increase in oil output.

Ignoring calls from Western nations to hike output more, OPEC+ agreed to raise June production by 432,000 barrels per day, in line with its plan to unwind curbs made when the pandemic hammered demand.