Oil prices edge up on surprise drawdown in US crude stockpiles

Saudi Arabia, the second largest producer of crude oil to world, faced an attack on its oil infrastructure facilities on September 14, which caused a sharp increase in fuel prices. Do you know where petrol prices were the highest? Here's a list of the countries where petrol is the cheapest and most expensive. (Note: All price comparisons are on rupee terms only. Global rates as of September, 16 2019 - Image: Reuters)

US oil prices extended gains on Wednesday after industry data showed a surprise decline in US crude inventories.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 35 cents, or 0.5 percent, at $72.27 a barrel by 0007 GMT on Wednesday, having settled up 14 cents.

Brent crude was up 36 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $81.77 a barrel, after settling up 63 cents the session before. The global benchmark, which hit a more than two-week low late last week as equity markets dropped, is trading about $5 below a four-year high of $86.74 marked on October 3.

US crude inventories fell by 2.1 million barrels last week, compared with analyst expectations for a build of 2.2 million barrels, American Petroleum Institute data showed after Tuesday's settlement.

Gasoline stocks dropped by 3.4 million barrels, compared with analyst expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.1 million-barrel decline. Distillate fuel stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, declined by 246,000 barrels, compared with expectations for a 1.3 million-barrel drop, the API data showed.

Inventory data from the US Energy Department's Energy Information Administration is due at 1430 GMT on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump has urged the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to raise output to help cover a shortfall due to new US sanctions on Iran.

The market has been supported by reports that Iranian crude exports may be falling faster than expected ahead of November 4, the date sanctions on the commodity are due to start.

The market has also been supported amid growing US tensions with top exporter Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Meanwhile, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo on Tuesday urged oil producing companies to increase capacities and invest more to meet future demand as spare oil capacity shrinks worldwide.

The Russian government is no longer capping oil output increases by local producers, one of the country's top energy companies, Gazprom Neft, said on Tuesday, signalling that Moscow's supply-restraint pact with OPEC has effectively expired for now.

OPEC and its allies including Russia agreed to reduce output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from the start of 2017 with Moscow pledging to cut some 300,000 bpd.

As oil prices hit $80 per barrel in recent months and with global oil inventories shrinking fast, Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to ease restrictions although they never said the exact levels they would target.