Oil prices slip below $39 as Libya ramps up production
(Bloomberg) --Oil extended its slide to a second day on a cocktail of surging coronavirus cases in the U.S. and Europe, dwindling prospects for pre-election stimulus in Washington and a steady resumption of supply from Libya.
Futures in New York fell 2.3% to drop below $39 a barrel. The U.S. reported record infections for a second straight day, while Italy approved a partial lockdown and Spain announced a national curfew. At the same time, stock markets fell as investors doubted that Washington lawmakers will reach an economic stimulus package anytime soon.
The worsening demand outlook is coinciding with Libya鈥檚 push to almost double crude output, as it reopened its last major oil field. The nation鈥檚 production could top 1 million barrels a day within weeks.
A little more than six months after Covid-19 sent oil prices into a tailspin, a second wave is threatening to take another bite out of energy demand. Saudi Arabia鈥檚 energy minister said at a conference on Monday that the oil market isn鈥檛 yet out of the woods, despite a strong recovery in recent months. It comes as demand in Asia holds up well, but concerns grow over other parts of the world as the virus spreads.
鈥淒emand weakness is definitely the biggest worry and problem in the market right now,鈥 said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB AB. 鈥淪upply is still fairly contained and controlled even with Libya coming back into the market.鈥
Prices:
- West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 2.3% to $38.92 a barrel at 10:17 a.m. in London.
- Brent for the same month dropped 2.2% to $40.86
A lack of commitment by OPEC+ producers to the group鈥檚 cuts could force the market to penalize them, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the Singapore International Energy Week 2020 on Monday. The oil market is going through 鈥渟erious harsh times,鈥 he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week signaled openness to delaying scheduled production hikes by the OPEC+ alliance . The group will decide whether to stick to the current plan at a meeting scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
Other oil-market news:
- China鈥檚 imports of U.S. crude reached a record high in September as Beijing stepped up the pace of its commodities purchases to meet the terms of its phase-one trade deal with Washington.
- Cenovus Energy Inc. agreed to buy Husky Energy Inc. in a C$3.8 billion ($2.9 billion) all-stock deal that will combine two of the largest players in Canada鈥檚 beleaguered oil-sands industry, which is struggling after the slump in crude prices.
- Six months on from crude鈥檚 era-defining price crash and Big Oil is suffering from whiplash. As the coronavirus surges through Europe once again, the twin safety nets for majors in previous downturns -- refining and trading -- have come under severe pressure.