Brent Oil Nears $73 as OPEC+ Prepares to Ease Production Cuts – March 31

Market data shows WTI crude holding at $69.40 per barrel early Monday, reflecting a tense equilibrium between supply risks and softening demand.

Prices dipped slightly overnight after former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed tariffs on Russian oil buyers, though traders largely shrugged off the announcement as political theater.

Brent crude edged 0.2% lower to $72.59, maintaining its traditional $4 premium over U.S. benchmarks amid persistent regional supply disparities. Trump’s weekend tariff threats—ranging from 25% to 50% on nations purchasing Russian crude—initially rattled Asian trading desks.

Chinese state refiners Sinopec and Zhenhua Oil halted spot purchases of Russian Urals blend within hours, mirroring similar caution from Indian buyers. Yet the broader market response proved muted, with June WTI contracts slipping just 0.3% to $69.18.

“Markets have become desensitized to tariff rhetoric without enforcement mechanisms,” said ING’s Warren Patterson during a Singapore briefing. Supply dynamics tell a conflicting story.

U.S. sanctions slashed Venezuelan output by 18% year-to-date, while Iranian exports hit a six-month low after renewed enforcement actions.

OPEC+ appears poised to unwind 500,000 barrels per day of production cuts by April’s end, counterbalanced by Russia’s pledge to deepen export reductions if Ukraine ceasefire talks collapse.

Oil Market Faces Uncertainty

The International Energy Agency revised its 2025 demand forecast upward to 1.1 million barrels daily. This adjustment was due to Chinese stimulus measures targeting property markets and consumer spending.

Technical charts reveal brewing volatility. WTI faces stiff resistance at $69.51 after failing to breach the $70 psychological barrier last week, with support firming near $64.95.

Brent’s prompt spread narrowed to 82 cents backwardation, down from January’s $1.02 peak, signaling easing near-term supply concerns. Energy ETFs mirrored this uncertainty—the United States Oil Fund gained 4.3% during January’s price surge but gave back half those gains by March.

Analysts diverge sharply on projections. Goldman Sachs maintains a $76 Brent target for 2025, while Citi warns of a potential plunge to $50 if recessionary pressures intensify.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration strikes a middle path, forecasting $74.22 Brent averages this year. Traders now await Chevron’s May 27 deadline to wind down Venezuelan operations, a decision that could remove 150,000 daily barrels from global markets.

Behind the numbers lies a market struggling to price systemic risks. Geopolitical shocks now compete with mechanical forces—rising non-OPEC+ production, tepid GDP growth, and strategic petroleum reserves at seven-year lows.

As one Geneva-based trader noted, “The real story isn’t today’s price. It’s whether markets can withstand the next crisis without synchronized central bank support.” For now, $69.40 crude suggests cautious bets on stability, but the foundation appears increasingly fragile.

LatAm Markets: Live Signals → — real-time movers, turnover leaders and FX across Latin America.