Global oil prices continue to fall

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil prices fell on Monday as the start to US sanctions against Iran’s fuel exports was softened by waivers that will allow major buyers to still import Iranian crude, at least temporarily.

Front-month Brent crude futures were at $72.41 per barrel at 0348 GMT on Monday, down 42 cents, or 0.6 percent from their last close.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 35 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $62.79 a barrel.

Both Brent and WTI have lost more than 15 percent in value since early October, in part as hedge funds have cut their bullish wagers on crude to a one-year low, data showed on Friday.

Washington reintroduced sanctions against Iran on Monday, restoring measures lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama, and adding 300 new designations including Iran’s oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors.

Despite this, oil prices came under pressure as Washington will allow several countries to continue importing crude from Iran despite the sanctions.

“The impact of the sanctions is going to be largely softened as a result of this allowance,” said Sukrit Vijayakar, director of Indian energy consultancy Trifecta.

The US said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil.

Washington has so far not named the eight, referred to as “jurisdictions,” a term that might include Taiwan which the US does not regard as a country.

China, India, South Korea, Turkey, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Japan have been the top importers of Iran’s oil, while Taiwan occasionally buys Iranian crude.