Saudi Oil Exports Reach $25.5 Bln in Oct.

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
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Saudi Oil Exports Reach $25.5 Bln in Oct.

The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo
The sun is seen behind a crude oil pump jack in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, US, November 22, 2019. REUTERS/Angus Mordant/File Photo/File Photo

The value of Saudi oil exports during October 2022 reached 95.8 billion riyals ($25.5 billion), compared to 82.1 billion riyals ($21.9 billion) during October 2021, with an increase of (14 billion riyals), a percentage of 17.

According to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), oil exports represented 77.5 percent of the overall exports of the Kingdom in October compared to 79.4 percent during the same month of last year.

Oil prices rose for the fourth day in a row on Thursday as US inventories of crude oil, heating oil and jet fuel dwindle just as a winter storm hits the United States and travel spikes into the holiday season.

Brent futures rose $1.16 percent, or 1.96 percent, at 1201 GMT, up about 2.7 percent from the previous session.

Futures for US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $1.51, or 1.93 percent, to $79.80 a barrel.

Both benchmark oil contracts jumped on Wednesday after government data showed US crude inventories fell by much more than analysts had expected, posting a drop of 5.89 million barrels for the week ending Dec. 16.

Distillate stocks, which include heating oil and jet fuel, also declined, going against expectations for a build.

Stockpiles fell as demand for heating oil was set to soar because of the powerful winter storm in the US.

"The crude market is finely balanced," said National Australia Bank's head of commodity research Baden Moore.

"As we look into 2023, we see China's re-opening and a likely continued steady roll-up in global jet demand (towards 2019 levels) will tighten global crude markets and drive prices higher," he said.

China may be struggling to keep a tally of COVID-19 infections as the country experiences a big spike in cases, a senior World Health Organization official said on Wednesday.



Oil Slips as Gaza Talks Ease Supply Worries; Hurricane Beryl in Focus

FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
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Oil Slips as Gaza Talks Ease Supply Worries; Hurricane Beryl in Focus

FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Oil pump jacks are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo

Oil prices slid on Monday after rising for four weeks, as the prospect of a ceasefire deal in Gaza eased tensions in the Middle East, while investors assessed potential disruption to US energy supplies from Hurricane Beryl.
Brent crude futures were down 49 cents, or 0.57%, at $86.05 a barrel, as at 0843 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $82.53 a barrel, down 63 cents, or 0.76%, Reuters said.
Talks over a US ceasefire plan aimed at ending the nine-month-old war in Gaza are under way and being mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
"If anything concrete comes from the ceasefire talks, it will take some of geopolitical bids out of the market for now," said IG analyst Tony Sycamore based in Sydney.
The ports of Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City closed on Sunday to prepare for Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to make a landfall in the middle of the Texas coast between Galveston and Corpus Christi later on Monday.
"Weekly settlement prices suggest that investors liked what they saw in spite of the pre-weekend profit-taking in oil, which continues this morning on the prospect of the resumption of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and the closure of Texan ports", said PVM analyst Tamas Varga.
Port closures could bring a temporary halt to crude and liquefied natural gas exports, oil shipments to refineries and motor fuel deliveries from those plants.
"While this puts some offshore oil and gas production at risk, the concern when the storm makes landfall is the potential impact it could have on refinery infrastructure," ING analysts led by Warren Patterson said in a note.
WTI gained 2.1% last week after data from the Energy Information Administration showed stockpiles for crude and refined products fell in the week ended June 28.
IG's Sycamore said there is also a good chance of the US. data showing another large weekly draw in US oil inventories amid peak driving season.
Investors were also watching for any impact from elections in the UK, France and Iran last week on geopolitics and energy policies.