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Oil prices slipped slightly in Asian trading on Wednesday, despite optimism that the U.S. government was close to ending its record-breaking 42-day shutdown. The temporary support from the potential reopening was outweighed by lingering fears of an oil supply glut and a strong U.S. dollar that continued to pressure the market.
Brent crude futures for January edged down 0.2% to $65.04 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also fell 0.2% to $60.85 per barrel by 20:21 ET (01:21 GMT). The modest losses came as traders weighed the impact of political and economic developments in the world’s largest oil consumer.
The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Tuesday to reopen the government, with the House of Representatives expected to vote in favor on Wednesday. Once signed into law by President Donald Trump, the measure will officially end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The prospect of restored federal operations provided some support to crude markets, as the shutdown had caused widespread disruptions across several sectors, including travel and energy logistics.
Airports across the U.S. faced significant challenges due to staffing shortages in air traffic control and safety departments, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations. These disruptions dampened fuel demand, compounding pressure on oil prices even as traders looked for positive signals from Washington.
Meanwhile, concerns over global supply continued to weigh heavily on sentiment. Reports indicated that Russia’s Lukoil declared force majeure at an Iraqi oilfield, a move linked to the tightening U.S. sanctions on Moscow’s energy sector. The development highlighted growing geopolitical risks in global oil markets, but the potential for oversupply—driven by steady output from major producers—remained the dominant theme restraining price recovery.
Overall, traders remain cautious as oil markets balance geopolitical tensions, U.S. policy shifts, and persistent fears of excess supply that could cap price gains in the near term.
