financetom
Economy
financetom
/
Economy
/
Saudi Arabia hints it may raise oil output after US quits Iran nuclear deal
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Saudi Arabia hints it may raise oil output after US quits Iran nuclear deal
May 8, 2018 10:52 PM

Saudi Arabia indicated on Wednesday that it could raise its oil output to offset any potential supply shortage as a result of new sanctions on Tehran, after US President Donald Trump said Washington was withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

Share Market Live

NSE

Oil prices had been supported by expectations that Trump would pull out of the deal, which could hit Iranian crude exports and feed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, home to one-third of the world's daily oil supply.

Trump said on Tuesday that the United States was reimposing the "highest level of economic sanctions" on Iran, but he did not provide details. The original 2015 agreement had lifted sanctions in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear programme.

Saudi Arabia "will work with major producers and consumers within and outside OPEC to limit the impact of any supply shortages," a Saudi energy ministry official said on Wednesday, according to state news agency SPA.

"Following the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran, Saudi Arabia is committed to supporting the stability of oil markets for the benefit of producers and consumers and the sustainability of the global economic growth," the official said.

US crude settled down $1.67 at $69.06 per barrel and Brent settled down $1.32 at $74.85.

It was the busiest day in US front-month contracts since August, and for Brent the busiest in almost a month.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is in the midst of an oil supply-cutting deal with non-OPEC producers such as Russia that has helped erase a global glut and boosted oil prices above $75, the highest since 2014.

OPEC meets next in June, where it is widely expected to continue with the supply cuts until the end of 2018.

But a drop in Iranian exports due to a return of U.S. sanctions, plus involuntary supply losses in other OPEC members such as Venezuela, would mean the supply cut would be significantly larger than intended. That raised worries of a quick rise in oil prices.

Iran produces about 3.8 million barrels per day (bpd) and the country is OPEC's third-biggest producer, behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Its production accounts for about 4 percent of the world's oil supplies.

Since the Iran nuclear deal went into effect, its exports have risen to about 2.5 million bpd, from less than 1 million bpd. A majority goes to Asia, with Europe receiving about 600,000 bpd.

Last month, Trump accused OPEC in a tweet of "artificially" boosting oil prices.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
Fed's Bowman: Fed independence is very important with respect to monetary policy-CNBC
Fed's Bowman: Fed independence is very important with respect to monetary policy-CNBC
Jul 22, 2025
(Reuters) -Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman on Tuesday said the central bank's ability to set monetary policy without political interference is very important. It's very important ... that we maintain our independence with respect to monetary policy, Bowman said in a CNBC interview ahead of a day-long conference she is hosting at the Fed on bank regulation....
Philadelphia Fed Regional Nonmanufacturing Activity Index Indicates Slower Contraction in July
Philadelphia Fed Regional Nonmanufacturing Activity Index Indicates Slower Contraction in July
Jul 22, 2025
08:48 AM EDT, 07/22/2025 (MT Newswires) -- The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank's monthly nonmanufacturing activity index rose to minus 10.3 in July from minus 25.0 in the previous month, indicating a slower pace of contraction in the sector. The readings for new orders, sales, prices and employment all increased in the month. The six-month outlooks at the regional level increased,...
US Treasury chief: No need for Fed's Powell to step down right now
US Treasury chief: No need for Fed's Powell to step down right now
Jul 22, 2025
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -There is no need for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to immediately step down, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday, adding that the Fed chief's legacy should be to right-size the central bank's non-monetary policy functions. Bessent's comments in an interview on Fox Business Network come a day after he called on the U.S. central bank...
US Treasury chief: No need for Fed's Powell to step down right now
US Treasury chief: No need for Fed's Powell to step down right now
Jul 22, 2025
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -There is no need for U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to immediately step down, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday, adding that the Fed chief's legacy should be to right-size the central bank's non-monetary policy functions. Bessent's comments in an interview on Fox Business Network come a day after he called on the U.S. central bank...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved