Crude oil futures end sharply lower amid OPEC+ output hike

04 Apr 2025 Evaluate

Crude oil futures ended sharply lower on Thursday amid concerns about global demand after President Donald Trump delivered a highly anticipated speech on Wednesday outlining his plan to impose sweeping tariffs on U.S. trade partners. Trump's ‘reciprocal tariff’ plan calls for a baseline 10 percent tariff to be imposed on all U.S. imports except those compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Oil prices also dropped after eight OPEC+ countries agreed to speed up previously announced increases in crude oil output.  OPEC said Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman agreed to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day in May. OPEC noted the increase in production comprises the increment originally planned for May in addition to two monthly increments.  

Benchmark crude oil futures for May fell $4.76 or about 6.6% at $66.95 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for June delivery decreased $4.81 or 6.42% to settle at $70.14 a barrel on London's Intercontinental Exchange.

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