Oil prices fall on demand concerns, Brent below $70, near 3-year low

By Ahmad Ghaddar

LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices gave up the previous day's gains on Tuesday as a weaker demand outlook offset U.S. supply disruptions from Tropical Storm Francine and global oil oversupply risks that continue to weigh on the market.

Brent crude futures were down 95 cents, or 1.3%, at $70.89 a barrel by 1214 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude lost 96 cents, or 1.4%, to $67.75.

Both benchmarks had risen about 1% on Monday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said in a monthly report on Tuesday that global oil demand will rise by 2.03 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024, down from previously projected growth of 2.11 million bpd.

OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.74 million bpd from 1.78 million bpd.

The weakening global demand prospects and expectations of oil oversupply kept the market suppressed.

Chinese data on Monday showed consumer inflation accelerated in August to its fastest in half a year, though domestic demand remained fragile, and producer price deflation worsened.

And while data released on Tuesday showed China's exports grew at their fastest in nearly 1-1/2 years in August, imports disappointed against a backdrop of depressed domestic demand.

"The message from China is simple but loud and reverberates throughout the globe," said PVM Oil analyst Tamas Varga, adding that the country is struggling to encourage spending and boost sluggish demand.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard ordered the closure of all operations at Brownsville and other small Texas ports on Monday evening as Tropical Storm Francine barrelled across the Gulf of Mexico. Corpus Christi port remained open with restrictions.

The tropical storm is forecast to strengthen significantly and become a hurricane on Tuesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).



Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM ) said it shut in output at its Hoover offshore production platform while Shell (LON:SHEL ) paused drilling operations at two platforms. Chevron (NYSE:CVX ) also began shutting in oil and gas output at two of its offshore platforms.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is due to publish its short-term energy outlook, with forecasts for the global market and U.S. crude oil output.

Source: Investing.com