Oil Prices Drop to Three-Month Low Amid Trade War and OPEC+ Supply Concerns

Oil prices hit a near three-month low in Asian trading on Tuesday as fears of economic disruptions from U.S. trade tariffs and rising OPEC+ production weighed on the market. Brent crude futures fell 0.8% to $71.07 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.7% to $67.64 per barrel.

Investor sentiment weakened after U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 20%, with additional 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico set to take effect. The move sparked concerns about slowing global trade, potentially dampening oil demand, especially from China, the world’s top oil importer. Market jitters were further fueled by expectations of retaliatory measures from China, intensifying the trade conflict.

Adding to the pressure, OPEC+ confirmed it will proceed with its planned oil production increase in April, despite Trump’s push to stabilize prices. The cartel’s output hike, estimated at 138,000 barrels per day, is relatively small compared to the 5.8 million bpd cuts since 2022 but still signals looser supply conditions. This comes at a time when global oil demand is already softening due to economic slowdowns and inflation concerns.

Despite rising geopolitical tensions, including an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S. halting military aid to Ukraine, oil markets largely overlooked these risks. The focus remains on trade uncertainties and increasing supply, which could keep prices under pressure in the near term.

With trade wars intensifying and OPEC+ supply set to rise, oil markets face heightened volatility, keeping investors cautious.