Middle East Oil Market Weakens as Glut Concerns Gain Traction

The Middle Eastern oil market has weakened in recent weeks on concern that regional supplies will outstrip demand, adding to signs of a softening global picture that’s weighed on benchmark crude futures.

Among widely watched metrics, the premium of Abu Dhabi’s flagship Murban over Brent has declined to the narrowest since early October. The shift signals concern too much crude is being offered in the Middle East than can readily be bought by refiners in Asia at a time of higher, competing worldwide output.