Oil climbs on US output concerns, expected crude inventory drop

By Jeslyn Lerh

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as the market eyed U.S. output concerns in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine and expectations of lower U.S. crude stockpiles.

Brent crude futures for November rose 34 cents, or 0.5%, at $73.09 a barrel at 0420 GMT. U.S. crude futures for October climbed 49 cents, or 0.7%, at $70.58 a barrel.

Both contracts settled higher in the previous session as the ongoing impact of Hurricane Francine on output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico countered Chinese demand concerns ahead of this week's U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut decision, which should prove positive for investor sentiment in oil.

More than 12% of crude production and 16% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico remained offline, according to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on Monday.

"Oil prices managed to recover slightly ... (An) extreme bearish state over the past weeks called for some near-term stabilisation, with prices previously touching their lowest level since 2021," said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.

"But a weaker-than-expected run in China's economic data lately could still be a source of caution, while the lead-up to the upcoming FOMC interest rate decision may limit some risk-taking," Yeap added, referring to the Federal Open Market Committee.

The Fed is expected to start its easing cycle on Wednesday, with Fed funds futures showing markets are now pricing in a 69% chance the central bank will cut rates by 50 basis points.

"Growing expectations of an aggressive rate cut boosted sentiment across the commodities complex," ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that ongoing supply disruptions also supported oil markets.

A lower interest rate will reduce the cost of borrowing and can potentially lift oil demand by supporting economic growth.

Investors also eyed an expected drop in U.S. crude inventories, which likely fell by about 200,000 barrels in the week to Sept. 13, based on a Reuters poll. [EIA/S]

Still, lower-than-expected demand growth in China, the world's largest crude importer, have capped price gains. China's oil refinery output fell for a fifth month in August amid declining fuel demand and weak export margins, government data showed on Saturday.

(Reporting by Jeslyn Lerh; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Sonali Paul)