Oil rises to $80 as Saudis say demand growing

LONDON - Brent crude oil rose to around US$59 (S$80) a barrel on Wednesday after data showed Chinese factories were producing more than expected and Saudi Arabia's oil minister said oil demand was growing.

China's factory sector has expanded slightly this month, according to the flash HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers' Index. The index reached a four-month high of 50.1 in February, just above the 50 level that separates growth in activity from contraction. A Reuters poll had forecast a reading of 49.5.

China is the world's biggest energy consumer and second largest user of oil behind the United States, and even small changes in Chinese demand can move oil prices.

The market also got a small lift from comment by Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi, who spoke to reporters in the port city of Jizan, southwest Saudi Arabia.

"Markets are calm now ... demand is growing," said Naimi, who was behind a change in the strategy of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries last year, when it decided not to adjust production despite a sharp fall in oil prices.

Oil prices collapsed by 60 per cent between June and January to almost $45 a barrel, but have since recovered some ground.

Brent LCOc1 was up 40 cents at $59.06 a barrel by 1200 GMT, while US crude futures CLc1 were up by 30 cents at $49.58 a barrel.

Simon Wardell, oil analyst at Global Insight, said Naimi's comments reflected a desire for stability in the market.

"They want to find out where the floor price is. I think they are indicating that we are not that far off the floor in the current price," he said.

Yusuke Seta, commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan, said the China data was also a plus for oil.

"That's good news (as it means) potential oil demand, but I think the market needs to see more stable and concrete demand from China," he said.

Oil fell on Tuesday after a bigger-than-anticipated rise in US crude oil stocks, which have risen steadily over the last few months as domestic production has outstripped demand.

US crude inventories rose by 8.9 million barrels last week as refineries cut output.