Oil rises after OPEC+ rebuffs US call to boost output

LONDON – Oil prices rose on Friday after OPEC+ producers rebuffed a US call to raise supply to cool the market, sticking to plans for a gradual increase in output after cuts made in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

Brent crude rose 36 cents, or 0.45 per cent, to $80.90 a barrel by 09:12 GMT after touching $81.79. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 60 cents, or 0.76 per cent, to $79.41 after rising as high as $80.17.

The OPEC+ group of major producers agreed Thursday to stick to their plan to raise oil output by 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) from December, ignoring calls from US President Joe Biden for extra output to cool rising prices.

Top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia dismissed calls for speedier increases from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, citing economic headwinds.

The group has been restricting supply after the COVID-19 pandemic led to an evaporation of demand.

But with US retail gasoline prices not far off $4 a gallon, considered a pressure point for American drivers, the onus is on the White House after Biden on Saturday urged major G20 energy producers with spare capacity to boost output.

The White House said Washington would consider a full range of tools at its disposal to guarantee access to affordable energy after the OPEC+ meeting.

The focus will now shift to whether the United States and other countries opt to release oil from strategic petroleum reserves (SPR), UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said in a note.

“While such a decision would result in price setbacks, the SPR can only fill the gap during temporary production disruptions and not fix structural issues of underinvestment and rising demand,” Staunovo said according to Reuters. The bank expects Brent crude to continue climbing to $90 a barrel over the coming months.

Oil prices recently touched seven-year highs but fell this week after an increase in US inventories and signs that high prices could encourage higher production elsewhere.