Oil Pulls Back after 2-Day Gain as US Inventories Rise

Crude oil fell to around $104 a barrel on Wednesday, retreating after two consecutive sessions of gains as signs of rising US inventories weighed on the market. The American Petroleum Institute reported a 7.1 million-barrel increase in US crude stockpiles last week, alongside higher gasoline and distillate inventories, with official government data due later in the day. Supply concerns nevertheless remain elevated. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline remains offline, although US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the outage should last only a matter of days. Iran-backed Houthi militants are advancing towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait while intensifying attacks on Saudi targets and regional shipping routes. The disruption has reportedly prompted Saudi Aramco to delay some deliveries to European customers, increasing competition for alternative supplies. Libya also experienced a supply halt.

Crude oil fell below $105 per barrel on Wednesday, retreating from four-month highs after industry data showed a surprise increase in US crude inventories despite widening supply disruptions in the Middle East. API data showed US crude stockpiles surged by 7.14 million barrels last week following a 300,000-barrel decline in the previous week, defying expectations for another drawdown. Meanwhile, oil loadings at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port remained suspended following the shutdown of the crucial East-West pipeline. There is still no clear timeline for when operations at the key pipeline, which provides an alternative route around the Strait of Hormuz, will resume, as Iran-backed Houthi militants renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia this week. In Libya, the national oil company also suspended operations at two oilfields and a pumping station amid ongoing protests. Despite the disruptions, Libya’s overall oil output has remained largely stable at roughly 1.4 million barrels per day.

Crude oil eased below $105 per barrel on Wednesday in likely technical correction, but remained close to its highest levels in over four months amid broadening supply disruptions in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia reportedly cancelled some shipments after drone attacks forced the closure of the East-West pipeline, notifying European customers that several September deliveries had been scrapped. There is still no clear timeline for when operations at the key pipeline, which provides an alternative route around the Strait of Hormuz, will resume, as Iran-backed Houthi militants renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia this week. In Libya, the national oil company also suspended operations at two oilfields and a pumping station amid ongoing protests. Beyond the Middle East, Russia struck petrol stations in Kyiv, while Ukraine targeted a Russian oil refinery, despite US President Trump’s announcement that both sides had agreed to halt attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.