Oil Cuts Earlier Gains as Demand Worries Weigh
WTI crude oil futures fell to around $68.6 per barrel on Tuesday, erasing earlier gains as lingering demand concerns from China outweighed supply disruptions from a Gulf storm. Concerns over weak Chinese consumption persist, with the shift to lower-carbon fuels and a sluggish economy continuing to slow demand growth in the world’s top oil consumer. Additionally, consumption in Europe and the US is expected to decline as the summer driving season ends and refineries enter maintenance mode. Expectations of a persistent oil oversupply also weighed on the market, with OPEC+ recently postponing its planned production increase to December. Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard shut down operations at Brownsville and other small Texas ports on Monday evening due to Tropical Storm Francine. The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Francine will strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall on Wednesday.