Brent Nears $100, Bakken Prices Rise on Saudi Attacks, China Demand

Global oil prices surged on Tuesday, with Brent crude approaching $100 per barrel, following new attacks on Saudi Arabian energy facilities and data showing a rebound in Chinese crude imports. The developments add significant geopolitical risk premium and demand-side support to the market.

According to live data, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed at $93.83 per barrel, a gain of $2.35 or 2.57%. Brent crude settled at $98.65, up $2.37. The price for Bakken crude at the wellhead strengthened in tandem, with its differential to WTI holding at -$3.42.

The primary price catalyst came from renewed conflict in the Middle East. OilPrice.com reported that attacks on several Saudi energy facilities in the southern region on Tuesday caused fires, injuries, and temporary operational halts. The targeted sites include the strategically important Jazan refining complex, a 400,000-barrel-per-day facility that has been repeatedly hit amid fighting with Houthi forces. The attacks introduce fresh supply disruption concerns as the U.S.-Iran conflict continues.

Concurrently, new demand data from China provided a bullish counterpoint to previous import weakness. Customs data showed China imported 8.93 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in August, a 6.2% increase from July, according to reports from both OilPrice.com and Rigzone. This marks a second consecutive monthly rise from decade-low import levels seen in June.

The import rebound was driven in part by Chinese refiners boosting purchases of non-Middle Eastern crude, such as Russian ESPO grades, and by eased government restrictions on fuel exports. China's refined product exports jumped 29% month-on-month to 6 million tons in August, creating additional demand for crude feedstock.

For Bakken operators, the price surge and supportive fundamentals are a direct positive. The rise in global benchmarks translates to higher wellhead revenues, improving cash flows for producers and royalty owners. The sustained strength in Brent, which often sets the price for waterborne crude, supports the global competitiveness of Bakken barrels.

The combination of heightened geopolitical risk—which typically sustains a higher price floor—and evidence of resilient demand from the world's largest importer suggests a supportive price environment for North Dakota producers in the near term. However, the market remains sensitive to further developments in the Middle East and the durability of China's import recovery.