Oil Heads for Second Weekly Loss on Lingering Oversupply Concerns

Panamanian-flagged Caribbean Glory vessel with a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil, loads crude oil at a TLU (Tanker Loading Unit) in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, operated by Cenit, owned by Ecopetrol, in Covenas, Colombia October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Nelson Bocanegra
Panamanian-flagged Caribbean Glory vessel with a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil, loads crude oil at a TLU (Tanker Loading Unit) in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, operated by Cenit, owned by Ecopetrol, in Covenas, Colombia October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Nelson Bocanegra
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Oil Heads for Second Weekly Loss on Lingering Oversupply Concerns

Panamanian-flagged Caribbean Glory vessel with a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil, loads crude oil at a TLU (Tanker Loading Unit) in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, operated by Cenit, owned by Ecopetrol, in Covenas, Colombia October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Nelson Bocanegra
Panamanian-flagged Caribbean Glory vessel with a capacity of 2 million barrels of oil, loads crude oil at a TLU (Tanker Loading Unit) in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, operated by Cenit, owned by Ecopetrol, in Covenas, Colombia October 1, 2025. REUTERS/Nelson Bocanegra

Oil prices rose on Friday but remained on track for a second consecutive weekly loss after three days of declines on worries about excess supply and slowing US demand.

Brent crude futures rose 50 cents, or 0.8%, to $63.88 a barrel by 1243 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 51 cents, or 0.9%, at $59.94.

Both benchmarks are poised to register weekly declines of more than 1.5% as leading global producers raise output.

"The market continues to weigh a rising oil surplus against mixed macro," said SEB analyst Ole Hvalbye, Reuters reported.

An unexpected US inventory build of 5.2 million barrels reignited oversupply fears this week, said IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore.

US crude stocks rose more than expected on higher imports and reduced refining activity while gasoline and distillate inventories declined, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.

Concern over the effects of the longest government shutdown in US history also pressured oil prices.

The Trump administration has ordered flight reductions at major airports because of a shortage of air traffic controllers while private reports are pointing to a weaker US labor market in October.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, decided on Sunday to increase output slightly in December. However, the group also paused further increases for the first quarter of next year, wary of a supply glut.

European and US sanctions on Russia and Iran, meanwhile, are disrupting supplies to the world's largest importers, China and India, providing some support for global markets.

China's crude imports in October rose 2.3% from September and were up 8.2% from a year earlier at 48.36 million tons, customs data showed, against a backdrop of high utilisation rates at refineries in the world's largest oil importer.

"China kept importing elevated amounts of crude in October," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said. "That move keeps those barrels away from the OECD, where inventories remain low."

Swiss commodities trader Gunvor said on Thursday that it had withdrawn its proposal to buy the foreign assets of Russian energy company Lukoil after the US Treasury called it Russia's "puppet" and signalled that Washington opposed the deal.

"Gunvor scrapping its Lukoil assets purchase suggests the US is maintaining its maximum pressure campaign against Russia, and potential strict enforcement of sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil," said Vandana Hari at oil market analysis provider Vanda Insights.



Sources: Spain, Algeria in Talks to Increase Pipeline Gas Supply by Up to 10%

Spanish Foreing Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares speaks during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, 24 March 2026.  EPA/CHEMA MOYA
Spanish Foreing Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares speaks during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, 24 March 2026. EPA/CHEMA MOYA
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Sources: Spain, Algeria in Talks to Increase Pipeline Gas Supply by Up to 10%

Spanish Foreing Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares speaks during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, 24 March 2026.  EPA/CHEMA MOYA
Spanish Foreing Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares speaks during a press conference after the Cabinet meeting at Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, 24 March 2026. EPA/CHEMA MOYA

Spain and Algeria are in talks to increase the supply of natural gas via the Medgaz pipeline from Algeria by as much ⁠as 10%, two ⁠sources familiar with the matter said.

Talks are in advanced stage, one of the ⁠sources said, adding that a preliminary agreement may be reached during Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares's visit to Algiers this week.

The increase would be possible as the ⁠pipeline ⁠between the countries has capacity to increase the flow of gas by around 1 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year, Reuters quoted them as saying.

Spain and Algeria agreed to strengthen their energy partnership, Albares said on Thursday after meeting Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Algeria is "a stable and reliable" supplier of gas, Albares said.

The Iran conflict has upended energy markets and increased volatility, leading some to look elsewhere ⁠for their gas. Spanish power ⁠utility Naturgy's CEO Francisco Reynes said this week the company wanted to strengthen its relationship with its Algerian supplier and shareholder Sonatrach.

Naturgy has gas contracts with the Algerian state oil and gas company for ⁠about 5 billion cubic meters per year, according to figures the Spanish company gave to the market in 2022.

Algerian gas made up more than 29% of Spain's total gas imports in the first two months of the year, according to data from Spanish gas grid operator Enagas.

It comes via the Medgaz pipeline, in which Naturgy is ⁠a minority ⁠partner and Sonatrach holds a 51% stake. Sonatrach also has a stake of about 4% in Naturgy.

Other countries are also asking Algeria for more gas in the face of disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she hoped Algeria would send more gas to her country during a visit to Algiers this week.


TotalEnergies to Honor All LNG Contracts Despite Qatar Outages

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
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TotalEnergies to Honor All LNG Contracts Despite Qatar Outages

FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is seen at a petrol station in Paris, France, March 25, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo

TotalEnergies' CEO Patrick Pouyanne said on Thursday that the company made a decision not to declare force majeure to any of its liquefied natural gas customers, and that it would respect all the LNG contracts in terms of price and ⁠volume.

Qatar, the world's biggest ⁠LNG producer, has declared force majeure on all of its LNG output after being attacked as part of the US-Israeli war with Iran.

"We said to our customers we will ⁠not invoke force majeure and not deliver the gas... We want to be security of supply for our customers," Pouyanne said.

"Yes, we'll miss energy coming from Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but our portfolio is large enough to redirect part of it," he added, according to Reuters.

Analysts estimate TotalEnergies takes 5.2 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) from ⁠its ⁠share of the QatarEnergy LNG trains.

Sources have said Shell, the world's biggest LNG trader, had declared force majeure on cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells on. Analysts estimate Shell takes 6.8 mtpa of Qatari LNG.

Pouyanne also said that the current energy crisis makes renewables more attractive as they are not subject to the volatility from geopolitical instability.


India Secures 60 Days of Oil Supply amid Hormuz Disruption

Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
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India Secures 60 Days of Oil Supply amid Hormuz Disruption

Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)
Small boats sail loaded with goods in front of a container ship in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, June 25, 2025 (AFP)

India has secured crude oil supplies for the next 60 days, ensuring stable fuel supplies in the country despite disruption in shipments from the Middle East, the oil ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

India, the world's third biggest oil consumer and importer, was buying over 40% of its oil imports from the Middle East. Those supplies are disrupted due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Higher availability of crude in global markets, mainly from the Western hemisphere, has helped offset the shortfall, the government said.

Taking advantage of a temporary US waiver, Indian refiners have also ramped up purchases of Russian crude, securing millions of barrels to fill the supply gap.

"Despite the situation at the Strait of Hormuz, India is today receiving more crude oil from its 41-plus suppliers across the world than what was previously arriving through the Strait," the ministry said.

As a net exporter of petroleum products, India’s domestic availability of petrol and diesel remains structurally secure, the government said.

The world's fourth-largest refiner has oil and fuel stocks sufficient to meet 60 days of demand, against a total storage capacity of 74 days, it added.

"Nearly two months of steady supply is available for every Indian citizen, regardless of what happens globally. The next two months of crude procurement have also been secured," it added.

India has asked refiners to maximize production of liquefied petroleum gas, used as cooking fuel, as the nation was buying 90% of its LPG imports from the Middle East.

Domestic daily LPG production has been increased by 40% to 50,000 metric tons against a requirement of 80,000 tons, it said.

In addition, Indian companies have secured 800,000 tons of LPG cargoes from the United States, Russia, Australia, and other countries, it said.

These shipments, arriving across India's 22 LPG import terminals, provide roughly one month of assured supply, with further procurement underway, the government said.