Oil prices fell yesterday as U.S. crude production neared an unprecedented 12 million barrels per day (bpd) just as worries about weakening demand emerge.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at US$51.92 per barrel, down 39 cents, or 0.8 percent, from their last settlement.
International Brent crude oil futures were also down 37 cents, or 0.6 percent, at US$60.95 per barrel.
American crude oil production reached a record 11.9 million bpd in the week ending Jan. 11, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, up from 11.7 million bpd last week, which was already the highest national output in the world.
U.S. output has soared by 2.4 million bpd since January 2018, stoking fears of a supply glut.
The EIA also said gasoline stockpiles climbed 7.5 million barrels last week, far exceeding analyst expectations in a Reuters poll for a 2.8 million-barrel gain. At 255.6 million barrels, gasoline stocks were at their highest weekly level since February, 2017.
“While (U.S. crude) inventories fell slightly more than expected, there was a large build in gasoline inventories. This stoked fears of weak demand in the U.S.,” ANZ Bank said.
Distillate stockpile, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 3.0 million barrels, versus expectations for a 1.6 million-barrel increase, the EIA data showed.
Along with the surge in U.S. crude output, exports from the United States are also rising, hitting a record 3.2 million bpd by the end of last year.
“Crude oil exports from the U.S. have strongly increased during the last few years and the trend is expected to remain positive,” shipping brokerage, Banchero Costa stated.
Norbert Ruecker, head of commodity research at Swiss Julius Baer, noted “the United States is moving forward towards energy independence and is set to become a petroleum net exporter next year thanks to rising shale output”.
