Crude prices were seen trading flat amid speculation that crude stockpiles increased in the US, the world’s biggest oil consumer. While the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine over the Crimean region continues to weigh on the oil market, as worries over demand growth from the world’s biggest oil consumers keep crude prices under pressure.
West Texas Intermediate for April delivery gained 0.15% to $101.28 per barrel on the New York Mercantile at the time of writing. On Monday, the contract dropped to the lowest close since February 14, coming down at $1.46 to $101.12.
The drop was dragged lower by the sudden fall in Chinese exports, adding concerns over the slowdown of the world’s second largest economy.
While the Brent crude for April settlement edged up 0.01% to $108.10 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange at the time of writing. The European benchmark crude was at a premium of $6.82 to WTI.
The American Petroleum Institute is scheduled to report its stockpiles data later in the day, while the Energy Information Administration will release reports on Wednesday.
US crude inventories are forecasted to have added 2.08 million barrels in the week ending March 7, compared to the supplies of 363.8 million recorded in the previous week, marking the highest since December.
Gasoline stockpiles are forecasted to show a decline by 2 million barrels, while distillate-fuel inventories including heating oil and diesel, are expected to have slid by 311,000 barrels.
Meanwhile, refiners likely reduced utilization to an average 87.4% of capacity, according to reports from the EIA, the Energy Department’s statistical arm.
Utilization rates were likely maintained in the week ending March 1, according to analysts.
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