OPEC and its allies may discuss this month countries which have lagged in reducing their oil output under a global oil cut deal, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying on Monday
Aramco cut Arab Light to Asia to a discount against the benchmark oil price used by the Saudis for the first time since June
Earlier on Wednesday, Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar was quoted as saying that he has spoken about the exemption to key OPEC oil ministers in three separate meetings
Abdul Jabbar said last month that Iraq would cut its oil production by an additional 400,000 bpd in August and September to compensate for its overproduction in the three previous months
The Covid-19 disruptions have changed the structure of the country's oil and gas sector with the share of OPEC crude in Indian oil imports falling to a decade-low level in July.
Iraq said on Friday it would cut its oil production by another 400,000 barrels per day in both August and September to compensate for its overproduction in the past three months.
The group, known as OPEC+, met on Wednesday to review compliance and left oil cuts levels unchanged
Firmer stock markets and a weaker dollar were also lending support, said Commerzbank analyst Eugen Weinberg
Two prominent forecasters, the International Energy Agency and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, trimmed their 2020 oil demand forecasts this week
Brent crude was up 14 cents, or 0.3%, at $45.10, heading for a gain of about 1.6% this week
World oil demand will fall by 9.06 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said in a monthly report
There is still a long way to go before Asian demand can be relied upon again
The oil company will boost outpur capacity by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 13 million bpd despite spending cuts this year and next year
Brent crude fell 7 cents to $45.10 a barrel by 0802 GMT, while US crude was down 25 cents at $41.94
The market is looking for its next clear signal, with a slew of mixed data pressuring it on either side
Oil has been stuck in a narrow band since June, with rising virus infections in many countries increasing concerns about a renewed hit to the global economy
Coronavirus cases continued to surge in the United States and stood at almost 18 million globally
OPEC faces a dramatic adjustment if consumption starts a permanent decline
Futures in New York dropped below $41 a barrel, though the more global Brent benchmark's structure firmed on signs of tightness in physical markets.
Oil prices collapsed this year after global demand fell by a third when governments imposed lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus