US commercial crude oil inventories fell by 1.4 million barrels during the same period, totalling 422.0 million barrels. This figure is approximately 6% below the five-year average for this time of year, suggesting continued supply constraints relative to historical norms.
OPEC+, which represents nearly half of global oil supply, announced plans to gradually increase production starting in April 2025. The 18-month phased approach will reverse previous output cuts at a slower pace than initially expected.