Oil eases as Iran exports up

KSA needs $85-$87 a barrel to balance budget: IMF

FE Team | Published: May 03, 2018 00:36:47

LONDON, May 02 (Reuters): Brent crude futures eased on Wednesday, surrendering early gains after evidence of further increases in US shale supply and a rise in Iranian exports ahead of a possible renewal of US sanctions on Tehran.
Oil pumps are seen at sunset outside Vaudoy-en-Brie, near Paris, France April 23, 2018. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
July Brent futures LCOc1 were down 16 cents at $72.97 a barrel by 1100 GMT, after falling nearly 3 per cent on Tuesday to their lowest in two weeks.
US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 18 cents at $67.43, off a session high of $67.85.
"Geopolitical noise remains loud and in part pushed oil prices towards $75 per barrel," said Norbert Ruecker, head of commodity and macro strategy at Julius Baer.
"The elevated uncertainty suggests volatile but range-bound oil prices going forward."
Iran, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), re-emerged as a major oil exporter in January 2016 when some international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme.
The United States has questioned Iran's sincerity in implementing the nuclear curbs and President Donald Trump has threatened to reimpose sanctions if adjustments are not made to the agreement.
Iran's oil exports hit 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, according to the Oil Ministry, a record since the lifting of sanctions. China and India bought more than half of the oil.