Oil hits multi-year high on tight supply, Iran sanctions

LONDON, May 15 (Reuters): Oil prices hit a 3-1/2-year high on Tuesday, supported by tight supply and planned US sanctions against Iran that are likely to restrict crude oil exports from one of the biggest producers in the Middle East.

Brent crude oil LCOc1 reached $79.22 a barrel, up 99 cents and its highest since November 2014. By 1100 GMT, Brent was up 90 cents at $79.13. US light crude was 60 cents higher at $71.56 a barrel, also close to its highest since November 2014.

World oil prices have surged by more than 70 per cent over the last year as demand has risen sharply but production has been restricted by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, and other producers including Russia.

Now the United States has announced it will impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, raising fears that markets will face shortages later this year when trade restrictions come into effect.

"Oil prices are touching fresh multi-year highs as robust demand prospects coupled with a tense geopolitical backdrop make for a potent bullish cocktail," said Stephen Brennock, analyst at London brokers PVM Oil Associates.

Norbert Rücker, head of macro and commodity research at private bank Julius Baer, said that at the top of everyone's mind was "the potential impact on Iranian oil exports and thus the risk of another meaningful supply disruption".

Reports from New York and Singapore add: Oil futures prices have soared past three-year highs, OPEC's deal has cut millions of barrels of inventory worldwide and investors are betting in record numbers that prices could rocket past $80 and even hit $90 a barrel this year.

But physical markets for oil shipments tell a different story. Spot crude prices are at their steepest discounts to futures prices in years due to weak demand from refiners in China and a backlog of cargoes in Europe. Sellers are struggling to find buyers for West African, Russian and Kazakh cargoes, while pipeline bottlenecks trap supply in west Texas and Canada.

The divergence is notable because traditionally, physical markets are viewed as a better gauge of short-term fundamentals. Crude traders who peddle cargoes to refineries worldwide say speculators are on shaky ground as they drive futures markets above $70 a barrel.