NEW YORK: Oil prices tanked more than two per cent on Wednesday as Opec+ producers unexpectedly delayed a meeting on production cuts, raising questions about global crude supplies.

Brent futures fell $2.02, or 2.5pc, to $80.43 a barrel by 12:35 p.m. (1735 GMT), after falling as low as $78.41. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down $2.04, or 2.6pc, at $75.73, after hitting a session low of $73.79.

Opec+ postponed the meeting, originally scheduled for Nov 26, to Nov 30, it said in a statement, a surprise development that drove prices sharply lower in early trading. The group was expected to discuss whether to expand oil output cuts.

“This postponement indicates difficulties within the Opec+ group to reach an agreement to cut production,” said Jorge Leon, senior vice president at Rystad Energy.

The meeting, which includes major producers Saudi Arabia, Russia and other allies and members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, had been expected to consider further changes to a deal that already limits supply into 2024, according to analysts and Opec+ sources.

The delay suggests more production could come online from oil producers in the coming months, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial.

A rise in inventories also put pressure on prices, he said. US crude oil inventories rose by 8.7 million barrels last week on higher imports, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2023