Oil prices fell on Wednesday as industry data pointed to a big build in crude oil and distillate stocks in the United States, the world’s largest oil consumer, and as pressure mounted on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase supply.
Brent crude futures fell 2.15%, or $1.82, to $82.90 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures tumbled by $2.08, or 2.5%, to $81.83 per barrel.
President Joe Biden, speaking at a climate summit in Glasgow, blamed a surge in oil and gas prices on a refusal by OPEC nations to pump more crude.
U.S. crude and distillate fuel stocks rose last week while gasoline declined, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.
Crude stocks rose by 3.6 million barrels for the week ended Oct. 29. Gasoline inventories fell by 552,000 barrels and distillate stocks rose by 573,000 barrels, the data showed, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Analysts had expected crude oil inventories to have risen last week.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, will be released later on Wednesday.
Related Stories
