US crude slumps below $50 mark

OIL PRICES fell on Thursday, extending the biggest falls this year as record US crude inventories kept sentiment weak, pointing to a global glut despite supply cuts.

Crude oil stocks in the United States, the world’s top oil consumer, surged last week to 528.4 million barrels, an all-time high and up 8.2 million barrels in a week, well above forecasts of a 2 million barrel build.

The surge in US inventories came despite an agreement by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other exporters to cut output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first half of 2017.

“US oil stockpiles have gained around 50 million barrels since the start of the year, raising some doubts over the effectiveness of OPEC cuts,” said Hamza Khan, head of commodities strategy at ING Bank in Amsterdam.

Brent crude oil was down $1.40 a barrel at $51.71, after reaching an intraday low of $51.60, its lowest since December 1. On Wednesday, Brent fell $2.81 a barrel, or 5 per cent, in its biggest daily price move this year.

US light crude reached an intraday low of $48.79, down $1.49, before recovering slightly to trade around $48.90 a barrel. WTI plummeted 5.38 per cent on Wednesday.

“The market went into a meltdown yesterday,” said Tamas Varga, analyst at London brokerage PVM Oil Associates.