Oil prices slid on Oct. 24 after Chinese data showed that demand from the world's largest crude importer remained lackluster in September as strict COVID-19 policies and fuel export curbs depressed consumption.
Brent crude futures for December settlement were down $1.17, or 1.3%, at $92.33 a barrel by 12:17 GMT, after rising 2% last week. U.S. WTI crude for December delivery was at $83.65 a barrel, down $1.40, or 1.7%.
Although higher than in August, China's September crude imports of 9.79 MMbbl/d were 2% below a year earlier, customs data showed on Oct. 24, as independent refiners curbed throughput amid thin margins and lackluster demand.
"The recent recovery in oil imports faltered in September," ANZ analysts said in a note, adding that independent refiners failed to utilize increased quotas as ongoing COVID-related lockdowns weighed on demand.
Uncertainty over China's zero-COVID policy and property crisis are undermining the effectiveness of pro-growth measures, ING analysts said in a note, even though third-quarter gross domestic product growth beat expectations.
Brent rose last week despite U.S. President Joe Biden announcing the sale of a remaining 15 MMbbl of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves, part of a record 180 MMbbl release that began in May.
Biden added that his aim would be to replenish stocks when U.S. crude is around $70 a barrel.
But bank Goldman Sachs said the stocks release was unlikely to have a large impact on prices.
"Such a release is likely to have only a modest influence (<$5/bbl) on oil prices", the bank said in a note.
U.S. energy firms added oil and natural gas rigs last week for the second week in a row as relatively high oil prices encourage firms to drill more, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co. said in a report.
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