Iraq, OPEC+, Japan, Trump, Iran, Oil

Oil prices edged lower on Monday, October 5, 2026, as rising Middle East crude exports boosted supplies amid the United States-Israeli war on Iran.

Brent crude futures fell 66 cents, or 0.65%, to $101.59 a barrel at 0240 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $90.12 a barrel, down 95 cents, or 1.03%.

Brent gave up most of its gains last week while WTI was 1.6% lower after G7 countries agreed on Friday to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude from ⁠emergency reserves and pledged to refrain from energy export restrictions after pressure from US President Donald Trump.

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Shipping data showed on Monday that the release will add to Middle Eastern crude exports which rose above pre-war levels in four of the seven days of the final week of September, despite attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

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The chief analyst at KCM Trade, Tim Waterer, told Reuters: said: “The G7 decision to tap strategic reserves is taking some of the immediate supply anxiety out of the price, while there’s a growing view that Saudi export volumes are moving back toward pre-war levels, even if those barrels are still moving at higher cost and via less efficient routes.

“That combination is enough to subdue prices ‌for now ⁠even though the risks of further damage to energy infrastructure around the Gulf region haven’t gone away.”

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