LDN - Business

Oil jumps above $61 on talk of further OPEC+ supply curbs

[December 02, 2019] By Alex Lawler

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil jumped above $61 a barrel on Monday, supported by hints that OPEC and its allies may agree to deepen output cuts at a meeting this week and as rising manufacturing activity in China suggested stronger demand.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia are expected to extend output cuts this week and could increase the size of the curb by at least 400,000 barrels per day (bpd), two sources said.

"There is a discussion about a deeper cut taking place," an OPEC source said, citing forecasts of oversupply in the first six months of 2020. "There is a big stock build in the first half of the year - we need to keep an eye on that."

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose $1.40 to $61.89 a barrel by 1225 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude added $1.46 to $56.63.

The so-called OPEC+ group has coordinated output for three years to balance the market and support prices. Their current deal to cut supply by 1.2 million bpd started in January and expires at the end of March 2020.

"Any sign of discontent between the producers will send out negative signals and will put significant downward pressure on the oil price," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM. "We believe this is unlikely to happen."

OPEC's ministers will meet in Vienna on Thursday and the wider OPEC+ group will gather on Friday.

[to top of second column]

Oil pump jacks at sunset near Midland, Texas, U.S., August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jessica Lutz/File Photo

On Friday Brent and U.S. crude both fell on concerns that talks to end the trade war between the United States and China, the world's two biggest oil consumers, would be disrupted by U.S. support for protesters in Hong Kong.

Oil also rose on Monday because of an unexpected return to growth in Chinese factory activity in November as domestic demand picked up on Beijing's accelerated stimulus measures. That is supportive of the oil demand outlook.

But U.S. production keeps rising, led by shale oil, filling the gaps left by OPEC. Output in September increased to a record 12.46 million bpd, the U.S. government said in a monthly report on Friday.

It is not certain OPEC+ will agree this week to deepen its curbs. Some in the group are wary of encouraging more U.S. production by measures to support prices.

"A deeper cut could boost prices, which would bring on more shale output and not help," the OPEC source said.

(Additional reporting by Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by Susan Fenton and David Goodman)

Back to top