Oil prices rise over rising OPEC+ supply

Oil prices increased on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, as markets weighed expectations from more supply from major producers next month,

Brent crude was up 2 cents at $67.13 a barrel at 0345 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 1 cent to $65.44 a barrel.

Brent has traded between a high of $69.05 a barrel and low of $66.34 since June 25, as concerns of supply disruptions in the Middle East producing region have ebbed following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

Also weighing on prices, sources said American Petroleum Institute data late on Tuesday showed United States crude oil inventories rose by 680,000 barrels in the past week at a time when stockpiles typically draw amid the summer demand season.

“Today’s oil price moves are being pushed by the interplay of potentially rising OPEC+ supply, confusing U.S. inventory signals, uncertain geopolitical outlook, and macro-policy ambiguity,” said Phillip Nova senior market analyst Priyanka Sachdeva.

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However, planned supply increases by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies including Russia, know as OPEC+, appear already priced in by investors and are unlikely to catch markets off-guard again imminently, she added.

Four OPEC+ sources told Reuters last week the group plans to raise output by 411,000 barrels per day next month when it meets on July 6, a similar amount to hikes agreed for May, June, and July.

The market is already seeing the results of the previous OPEC+ increases with Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, lifting shipments in June by 450,000 bpd from May, according to data from Kpler, its highest in more than a year.

“With geopolitics at bay for now, oil futures are likely to trade within a tighter range this week, as global economic concerns persist, with an ‘easing dollar’ as the only exception to extend any upward traction,” said Sachdeva.

The Star