The trend in the oil market has changed! A few months ago, I was worried about not being able to buy oil. Now my biggest nightmare has become oversupply.

International oil prices weakened on Friday (13th). (Bloomberg)

〔財經頻道／綜合報導〕由於市場評估全球石油供應過剩跡象日益明顯，以及華府在這場已持續9個月的戰爭中，將重心放在封鎖伊朗，同時加大其他經濟施壓措施，國際油價週五（13日）走弱，連續第二週下跌。

Brent crude oil futures closed at $95.84 a barrel, up 2 cents, or 0.02%.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures in New York closed at $88.56 a barrel, down 18 cents, or 0.20%.

Brent crude oil and WTI crude oil both fell by about 2.5% this week. The two major crude oil fell by 16% and 13% respectively last week.

隨著美國與以色列對伊朗發動戰爭所帶來的地緣政治風險降低，加上國際能源總署（IEA）週五發布的報告指出，全球石油供應過剩情況正在加劇，油市正經歷重大轉變。

Price Futures Group資深分析師弗林（Phil Flynn）表示：「很明顯，幾個月前最大的恐懼是擔心石油短缺；如今看來，最大的恐懼已經變成供應過剩。」

Oil price trading has been volatile this week, with the market once expecting an easing of relations between the United States and Iran. However, the optimism was offset by attacks on Saudi Arabian infrastructure by the Yemeni rebel "Youth Movement" backed by Iran, and attacks on oil tankers carrying crude oil leaving the Persian Gulf.

U.S. President Trump posted on the social platform Truth Social that ending this war does not require an agreement with Iran.

Andrew Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, said: "The oil market is caught in a dilemma. On the one hand, oil supplies are increasing in the Middle East. On the other hand, there is no change in the negotiating position between the United States and Iran, and Iran still refuses to allow nuclear weapons inspectors to enter the territory."

Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of SS WealthStreet, a New Delhi-based research institution, said that the weakness in oil prices is also related to signs of slowing demand in the United States. The increase in crude oil and fuel inventories shows that the consumption outlook is relatively sluggish.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Thursday that U.S. crude oil and fuel inventories rose last week, driven by weak demand for refined oil products and a sharp increase in oil imports.