Oil falls as new coronavirus cases emerge in China, US

Economic data from Beijing fails to live up to expectations

LONDON: Oil prices fell on Monday as new coronavirus infections hit China, Japan and the United States, adding to concerns that a resurgence of the virus could hamper a recovery in fuel demand.

Brent crude was down $0.15, or 0.4%, at $38.58 a barrel by 0959 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $0.49, or 1.3%, at $35.77.

“A fresh wave of cases will certainly raise worries that a recovery in demand may take even longer than initially thought,” said ING’s Head of Commodities Strategy Warren Patterson.

After nearly two months with no new infections, Beijing officials have reported 79 coronavirus cases over the past four days.

US cases also started increasing. More than 25,000 new US cases were reported on Saturday alone as more states reported new infections and hospitalisations.

Economic data from China also failed to live up to expectations. China’s industrial output in May expanded 4.4% from a year earlier but the gain was less than expected, suggesting the world’s second-biggest economy is still struggling to get back on track.

However, Chinese refineries’ May throughput rose 8.2% year-on-year to about 13.6 million barrels per day (bpd).

“Overall, with oil supply flowing in a more or less expected path, demand will now be the key price mover,” said Rystad Energy’s Head of Oil Markets Bjornar Tonhaugen.

An Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)-led monitoring panel will meet on Thursday to discuss ongoing production cuts and see whether countries have delivered their share of reductions.

Iraq, one of the laggards in complying with the curbs, agreed with its major oil companies to cut crude production further in June, Iraqi officials working at the country’s giant southern oilfields told Reuters on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia has also reduced the volume of July-loading crude that it will supply to at least five buyers in Asia, sources said.