SINGAPORE — Brent crude slipped below $114 a barrel on yesterday, as data showing near-record high oil exports from Iraq indicated supplies remained unaffected by the escalating violence in Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec’s) number-two producer. Exports from Iraq’s southern terminals averaged 2.53-million barrels a day up to June 21, according to shipping data and Reuters sources, even as Sunni Islamist insurgents have captured swathes of territory in northwest and central Iraq.
This compared with May’s average of 2.58 million barrels a day — the highest since 2003.
“The oil markets look (like they will go) softer unless the Sunnis start blowing up refineries or ports, which they won’t do because it cuts off income,” Barratt Bulletin CE Jonathan Barratt said.
Brent crude dropped 27c to $113,85 by 4.15am GMT, off a nine-month top of $115,71 reached last Thursday.
The benchmark closed down 0,6 percent on Monday, it’s biggest drop since May 16, as Iraq supply concern eased.
US crude fell 49c to $105,68 a barrel, after falling 1 percent in the previous session, its biggest slide since late May. Direct US intervention in the Iraq crisis, with air strikes or other military action, could lead to a spike in oil prices, but Mr Barratt said he did not expect the US to take such tough action given Secretary of State John Kerry’s comments on Monday. Mr Kerry promised “intense and sustained” US support for Iraq, but said the divided country would only survive if its leaders took urgent steps to bring it together.
President Barack Obama has offered up to 300 US advisers to Iraq but stopped short of granting Baghdad’s request for air strikes to counter the advance by Sunni militants. – Reuters.
