Oil prices climb after Russian crude sanctions kick in

Dec 6 (Reuters) – Oil rebounded on Tuesday after plunging by more than 3% in the previous session, as the implementation of sanctions on Russian seaborne crude oil eased concerns about oversupply while the relaxing of China’s COVID curbs bolstered the demand outlook.

Brent crude futures had gained 85 cents to USD 83.53 a barrel by 0733 GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 68 cents to USD 77.62 a barrel.

Crude futures on Monday recorded their biggest daily drop in two weeks, after US service sector data raised worries that the Federal Reserve could continue its aggressive policy tightening path.

The Group of Seven set a top price of USD 60 a barrel on Russian crude, aiming to limit Moscow’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine, but Russia has said it will not abide by the measure even if it has to cut production.

The price cap, to be enforced by the G7 nations, the European Union and Australia, comes on top of the EU’s embargo on imports of Russian crude by sea and similar pledges by the United States, Canada, Japan and Britain.

While the market weighs the impact of sanctions on Russian supply, it was also watching a traffic jam of oil tankers off the coast of Turkey on Monday, with Ankara insisting on new proof of insurance for all vessels.

“The threat of losing protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance will limit Russia’s access to the tanker market, reducing crude exports to 2.4 million barrels per day (bpd) – 500,000 bpd lower than levels seen before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February this year,” said analysts from Rystad Energy in a note.

In China, more cities are easing COVID-19-related curbs, prompting optimism for increased demand in the world’s top oil importer.

The country is set to announce a further relaxation of some of the world’s toughest COVID curbs as early as Wednesday, sources said.

Business and manufacturing activity in China, the world’s second-largest economy, have been hit this year by strict measures to rein in the spread of the coronavirus.

But the oil price gains could prove fragile, as it would take time to confirm a sustained recovery in Chinese consumption, as well as the supply impact of Russian sanctions.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, cut the January official selling price for its flagship Arab Light crude for Asian buyers to a 10-month low.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Bradley Perrett and Edmund Klamann)