Both benchmarks are near the top of relatively narrow $4 ranges that have contained trade so far this year, reflecting a period of low volatility since the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other exporters agreed to cut output. Opec and producers including Russia aim to cut production by around 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) to drain an oversupply that has kept prices depressed for more than two years.
But some analysts considered the trading range a growing concern, particularly since high compliance among Opec members to curb output is having little upside, according to Tariq Zahir, an analyst at Tyche Capital Advisors. "If someone told me that the Opec cuts would be well above historic numbers, you would expect prices to be up to $60 or $65 a barrel," he said. "We're at 90 percent (compliance) last month, what if it falls to 80 or 85 percent?"
So far, Opec appears to be sticking to its deal, but other producers, notably US shale companies, have also increased output, helping swell stocks in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer. US crude stocks rose 564,000 barrels last week, its seventh consecutive rise, data from the US Energy Information Administration showed on Thursday, although less than previously expected.
Still, in Cushing, inventories fell by more than 1.5 million barrels, its largest draw since October. Distillate stocks also dropped by the most since October 2014, EIA data added. Tony Nunan, risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp, said the market needed to see that stocks outside the United States were also falling for prices to break out of their trading ranges. "It's a battle between how quick Opec can cut without shale catching up," Nunan said, referring to US drilling in shale formations that has shown an upsurge this year. "What Opec really has to do is get the inventories down."