Crude oil prices were down on Tuesday as rising coronavirus cases in China continues to put a downward pressure on global oil demand.
International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $57.10 per barrel at 0634 GMT for a 0.78% loss after closing Monday at $57.10 a barrel.
American benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at $51.97 a barrel at the same time for a 0.44% decline after ending the previous session at $52.20 per barrel.
The death toll in China from the coronavirus outbreak has increased to 1,869 with 72,436 confirmed cases, while in the last 24 hours 98 people have died and 1,886 new cases have been detected, according to the country’s National Health Commission on Tuesday.
Rising cases increase the risk of low crude oil demand in China, the world's second largest oil consumer, and its neighbors in Asia.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is expected to cut output by an additional 600,000 bpd at the beginning of March to trim some of the oversupply in the market and support prices.
OPEC and its allies, dubbed as OPEC+, had agreed on Dec. 6 to curb oil production by an additional 500,000 bpd, bringing the total cut to 1.7 million bpd.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr