© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An oil and gas industry worker walks during operations of a drilling rig at Zhetybay field in the Mangystau region, Kazakhstan, November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Turar Kazangapov/File Photo
By Yuka Obayashi
TOKYO (Reuters) – Oil prices rose on Wednesday as a storm in the Black Sea region disrupted oil exports from Kazakhstan and Russia, raising fears of supply tightness, while investors awaited a crucial decision by OPEC+, which may deepen or extend output cuts.
futures gained 33 cents, or 0.4%, at $82.01 a barrel at 0127 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures climbed 45 cents, or 0.6%, to $76.86 a barrel.
Both benchmarks gained about 2% on Tuesday on the possibility the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia (OPEC+), will extend or deepen supply cuts, as well as concerns over Kazakh oil output and a weaker U.S. dollar.
A severe storm in the Black Sea region has disrupted up to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil exports from Kazakhtsan and Russia, according to state’s officials and port agent data.
Kazakhstan’s largest oilfields are cutting combined daily oil output by 56% from Nov. 27, the Kazakh…
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