Aug 02, 2022 02:45AM ET
By: AnalysisWatch
Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as investors absorbed a bleak outlook for fuel demand with data pointing to a global manufacturing downturn just as major crude producers meet this week to determine whether to increase supply.
Brent crude futures dropped 24 cents, or 0.2%, to $99.82 a barrel by 0634 GMT, while WTI crude futures eased 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $93.78 a barrel.
The slide came after Brent futures slumped on Monday to a session low of $99.09 a barrel, their lowest since July 15. The U.S. crude benchmark dropped to as low as $92.42 a barrel, its weakest since July 14.
Recessionary concerns were heightened on Monday as surveys from the United States, Europe and Asia showed that factories struggled for momentum in July. Flagging global demand and China's strict COVID-19 restrictions slowed production.
The price drops also come as market participants await the outcome of a meeting on Wednesday between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, together known as OPEC+, to decide on September output.
Two of eight OPEC+ sources in a Reuters survey said that a modest increase for September would be discussed at the Aug. 3 meeting. The rest said output is likely to be held steady.
A Fox Business news reporter said Saudi Arabia will push OPEC+ to increase oil production at the meeting.
Meanwhile the United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Chinese and other firms it said helped to sell tens of millions of dollars' in Iranian oil and petrochemical products to East Asia as it seeks to raise pressure on Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.
Also casting a cloud over the market is the possibility of a visit to Taiwan by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, despite Beijing's warnings against it. The visit would mark the first time a high-profile U.S.
official has been on the island in over 25 years, which could escalate tensions between the U.S. and China.