WTI descends below $ 61,00 from a possible OPEC+ production rise

  • The price of the WTI goes back to about $ 60.75 in the first Asian session on Friday.
  • Petroleum inventories increased by 1,328 million barrels in the week that ended on May 16, according to EIA.
  • USA and Iran will celebrate new nuclear conversations on Friday.

The West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the referent of American crude oil, quotes around $ 60.75 during Friday’s Asian negotiation hours. The price of WTI drops amid that global supply could exceed demand growth.

The organization of oil exporting countries and its allies (OPEP+) planned to increase oil production to recover market share, which could limit the potential for the rise of the WTI price. OPEC+ has increased oil production more than expected since April, with a production in May that probably increases in 411,000 barrels per day. The OPEC leaders are also contemplating a similar increase in July, and could reintroduce up to 2.2 million barrels per day (BPD) of market supply for November, Reuters said previously.

The Weekly Report of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that crude oil reserves in the US for the week that ended on May 16 increased by 1,328 million barrels, compared to an increase of 3,454 million barrels in the previous week. The market consensus estimated that the reserves would fall into 1.85 million barrels.

On Tuesday, the US obtained new information that suggests that Israel is making preparations to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, even when US President Donald Trump has been looking for a diplomatic agreement with Tehran. It is not clear if Israeli leaders have made a final decision to carry out the attacks, CNN said, citing unidentified officials.

An attack by Israel would hinder any progress in these negotiations and contribute to tension in the Middle East, which provides approximately one third of world oil. The operators will be attentive to the next round of conversations between Iran and the US, which will take place on Friday in Rome. Any sign of progress in nuclear conversations could affect the price of WTI.

WTI FAQS oil


WTI oil is a type of crude oil that is sold in international markets. WTI are the acronym of West Texas Intermediate, one of the three main types that include the Brent and Dubai’s crude. The WTI is also known as “light” and “sweet” by its relatively low gravity and sulfur content, respectively. It is considered high quality oil that is easily refined. It is obtained in the United States and is distributed through the Cushing Center, considered “the crossing of the world.” It is a reference for the oil market and the price of WTI is frequently traded in the media.


Like all assets, supply and demand are the main factors that determine the price of WTI oil. As such, global growth can be a driver of the increase in demand and vice versa in the case of weak global growth. Political instability, wars and sanctions can alter the offer and have an impact on prices. OPEC decisions, a group of large oil -producing countries, is another key price factor. The value of the US dollar influences the price of WTI crude oil, since oil is mainly traded in US dollars, so a weaker dollar can make oil more affordable and vice versa.


Weekly reports on oil inventories published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) influence the price of WTI oil. Changes in inventories reflect the fluctuation of supply and demand. If the data show a decrease in inventories, it can indicate an increase in demand, which would raise the price of oil. An increase in inventories may reflect an increase in supply, which makes prices lower. The API report is published every Tuesday and that of the EIA the next day. Their results are usually similar, with a 1% difference between them 75% of the time. EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.


The OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 13 nations oil producing that collectively decide the production quotas of member countries in biannual meetings. Their decisions usually influence WTI oil prices. When OPEC decides to reduce fees, it can restrict the supply and raise oil prices. When OPEC increases production, the opposite effect occurs. The OPEC+ is an expanded group that includes another ten non -members of the OPEC, among which Russia stands out.

Source: Fx Street

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