Oil prices edged up to a two-week high on Tuesday on forecasts for less U.S. oil production, renewed Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, worries about U.S. tariffs on copper and technical short covering.
Brent crude futures rose 57 cents, or 0.8 per cent, to settle at $70.15 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $68.33, up 40 cents, or 0.6 per cent.
In the Red Sea, three seafarers on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C were killed in a drone and speedboat attack off Yemen, the second incident in a day after months of calm.
Attacks in the Red Sea have forced vessels carrying oil, liquefied natural gas and other energy products to travel long distances to avoid the region, boosting energy costs.
Some analysts also noted the oil market was supported by technical short-covering after Brent prices traded over $70 a barrel, a key level of both psychological and technical resistance.
In addition, energy traders noted rising prices for U.S. gasoline and diesel in recent weeks have boosted the diesel crack spread to its highest since March 2024 and the 3:2:1- crack spread to a six-week high. Crack spreads measure refining profit margins.
“The best thing that this complex has going for it on the upside is its recent ability to advance despite a steady flow of seemingly bearish headlines that would usually be weighing on oil values,” analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.
Those bearish headlines include Trump’s plan to ramp up his trade war again and plans by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, a group known as OPEC+, to raise production by 548,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August.