OPEC sees a strong rebound in oil demand in the second half of 2021 with oil inventories shrinking but the producer group also sees coronavirus variants posing a risk to the recovery

Oil prices slipped after hitting more than 2-1/2 year highs earlier in the session, as a spike in COVID-19 cases in Asia put a brake on rally before this week’s OPEC+ meeting

OPEC+ is discussing a further easing of oil output cuts from August as oil prices rise on demand recovery, but no decision had been taken yet on the exact volume to bring back to the market, two OPEC+ sources said

OPEC officials heard from industry experts that U.S. oil output growth will likely remain limited in 2021 despite rising prices, giving it more power to manage the market in the short term

OPEC and its allies maintained strong compliance with agreed oil output targets in May, when the first part of a gradual production increase took effect

In a monthly report, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said demand would rise by 6.6% or 5.95 million barrels per day (bpd) this year. The forecast was unchanged for a second consecutive month

OPEC+ agreed to stick to the existing pace of gradually easing oil supply curbs, two OPEC+ sources said, as producers balanced expectations of a recovery in demand against a possible increase in Iranian supply

Oil prices rose 1%, bolstered by strong U.S. economic data that offset investors’ concerns about the potential for a rise in Iranian supplies

OPEC+ is likely to stick to the existing pace of gradually easing oil supply curbs at a meeting on June 1, as producers balance expectations of a recovery in demand against a possible increase in Iranian supply

The global oil deficit is now seen at about 1 million barrels per day, Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said, days before the OPEC+ top negotiators are to meet