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Oil Prices Plunge to Lowest Levels Since 2021 as Trade Tensions Escalate

OPEC+ production hikes and U.S.-China tariff escalation drive crude oil below $62 per barrel, sparking fears of further economic slowdown.

A nighttime view of Marathon Petroleum's Los Angeles Refinery, which processes domestic & imported crude oil into gasoline, diesel fuel, and other refined petroleum products, in Carson, California, U.S., March 11, 2022. Picture taken with a drone. REUTERS/Bing Guan/File Photo
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A pump jack operates near a gas turbine power plant in the Permian Basin oil field outside of Odessa, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025.  REUTERS/Eli Hartman/File Photo
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Overview

  • Texas Intermediate crude fell below $62 per barrel, marking the lowest oil prices in over three years, with an 8% drop on Friday alone.
  • OPEC+ announced a larger-than-expected production increase of 411,000 barrels per day starting in May, contributing to oversupply concerns.
  • The Trump administration introduced sweeping tariffs, including a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, prompting fears of a global recession and reduced energy demand.
  • China retaliated with a 34% tariff on all U.S. goods, set to take effect on April 10, further exacerbating trade tensions and market uncertainty.
  • Analysts warn that oil prices could fall as low as $50 per barrel but note potential supply disruptions from sanctions and tariffs that might trigger a rebound above $70.