Crude Oil Climbed Whether Russia’s Oil Imports Will Be Banned by the EU

Crude oil closed yesterday at 9080, up 2.06%, as traders awaited news on whether the European Union would agree to an embargo on Russian oil imports. On Monday and Tuesday, the EU will gather to consider the sixth package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow refers to as a “special military operation.”

When the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, meet on Thursday, they are expected to reject Western efforts to accelerate output increases, underscoring market tightness. They will maintain to their existing plans to increase output by 432,000 barrels per day in July. Russia slightly increased oil production to 10.17 million barrels per day (bpd) between May 1 and 29, according to the TASS news agency, although output is still over 1 million bpd lower than when the West placed sanctions on Moscow. After some clients postponed or denied Russian barrels owing to sanctions, production from the world’s third-largest producer after the United States and Saudi Arabia fell by almost 10% to 10.05 million bpd in April from February. On May 1-29, TASS reported that output had been marginally restored to 10.17 million bpd.

Technically, the market is seeing fresh buying, with open interest up 9.13 percent to settle at 11055, while prices are up 183 rupees. Crude oil is now getting support at 8987, with a move below seeing prices test 8894 levels, and resistance is now likely to be seen at 9131, with a move above seeing prices test 9182 levels.