Oil eases; OPEC cites uncertain market outlook for 2018

Reuters  |  LONDON 

By Cooper

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries released its monthly report on Tuesday, in which it cited the high degree of uncertainty hanging over the global this year.

Brent crude futures fell 35 cents to $76.11 a barrel by 1347 GMT, while U.S. Intermediate crude futures traded 13 cents lower at $66.23.

"The market has been rangebound for two weeks and that is likely to remain the case," Ole Hansen, at Saxo Bank, said.

OPEC, together with partners including Russia, has cut by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) since January 2017 in an effort to boost the market.

Volatility in has subsided due to caution around the group's meetings scheduled for June 22-23, at which it will decide on future supply policy.

With U.S. sanctions threatening to cut Iranian exports and the potential for more declines in Venezuelan production, OPEC kingpin and have indicated they would be willing to raise output to make up for any supply shortfall.

Russian production reportedly climbed to 11.1 million bpd in early June.

In the United States, output has risen by almost a third in the last two years, to a record 10.8 million bpd.

Top exporter - which has so far led OPEC's efforts to withhold supplies - is also showing signs of raising production.

OPEC said on Tuesday the outlook in the second half of the year is highly uncertain even though the oil group's figures show a global glut is gone, suggesting exporters will be in no rush to fully relax output curbs next week.

"Recently, have lost some momentum amid uncertainty as traders prepare for potentially more supply returning to the market," the group said.

"I feel that if they would like to be a responsible swing for the global oil market, based on their (demand) numbers, they should increase production by at least 1 million bpd from the current level," said.

Crude remained in a tight trading range, in line with the broader financial markets, which were largely unruffled by a U.S.-summit aimed at the denuclearisation of the

(Additional reporting by in SINGAPORE; Editing by and Louise Heavens)

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First Published: Tue, June 12 2018. 19:46 IST