Oil quotes showed cautious growth on Thursday after a 4-day collapse that sent prices to multi-year lows. Brent futures for May delivery rose to $69.80 per barrel, while April WTI contracts reached $66.81. The previous trades were the worst for Brent since December 2021 – the asset lost 6.5%, while WTI dropped 5.8% to its lowest levels since May 2023. The decline in prices intensified after the introduction of US duties on Canadian and Mexican energy resources, which coincided with OPEC+'s decision to raise production quotas for the first time since 2022. The partial softening of Washington's position, which exempted automakers from 25% tariffs, temporarily stabilized the situation. According to insiders, the administration is also considering the abolition of 10% tariffs on Canadian energy. Market risks are intensifying against the backdrop of rising commercial stocks in the United States. According to the latest data, their volume increased by 3.6 million barrels to 433.8 million, which was ten times higher than analysts' forecasts. The decrease in gasoline and distillate stocks is solely due to the growth of export supplies. Experts emphasize the double pressure on the market: trade restrictions threaten to reduce global demand, and OPEC+'s decision to increase production creates risks of oversupply. Thus, these factors form a stable bearish sentiment among investors.
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