WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump today accused the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries of raising oil prices, in a fresh swipe at the cartel's agreement to cap production.
"Oil prices are too high, OPEC is at it again. Not good!" he wrote on Twitter. Oil prices peaked in late May, hitting the USD 80 per barrel ceiling on the Brent futures contract and USD 72.24 on the West Texas Intermediate.
Traders are holding their breath for the June 22 meeting of oil ministers from OPEC member states in Vienna.
In April Saudi Energy Minister Khaled al-Faleh said the global market has the capacity to absorb higher oil prices -- a remark that drew a swift reaction Trump.
"With record amounts of Oil all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea, Oil prices are artificially Very High! No good and will not be accepted!" Trump tweeted on April 20.
OPEC producers and non-OPEC countries struck a deal in 2016 to trim production by 1.8 million barrels per day to reduce a global glut of oil.
The deal, which is due to run out at the end of 2018, has succeeded in boosting oil prices above USD 70 a barrel from below USD 30 a barrel in early 2016.