Oil rises over 1% after Saudi Arabian refinery attack reignites supply risk

Oil prices ​climbed more than 1% on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) after an attack on a ‌refinery in Saudi Arabia renewed concerns around supply ​risks from the major exporter.

Brent crude futures gained $1.59, ⁠or 1.4%, to $115.47 a barrel as of 4:35 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.43, or 1.4%, to $101.33.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said ‌on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) they had hit Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil refinery with a missile, intensifying their strikes against ‌the world’s second-largest crude producer. Saudi authorities did not ‌immediately ⁠confirm the strike on the 550,000 barrel-per-day facility.

Prices ⁠swung higher after dropping nearly $2 on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

For now, the market is still pricing in a greater likelihood of re-escalation, ING commodity strategists said ​on Wednesday (October 28, 2026).

“Oil prices remain ‌elevated as the market waits for greater clarity on President Trump’s next move toward Iran,” said ING strategists.

“If we get past the elections without renewed strikes on Iran, ‌that might be enough for the market’s risk ​premium to start eroding,” they added.

Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil stocks eased, according to market sources citing data ⁠from the American Petroleum Institute. Crude stocks fell by 2.03 million barrels in the week ended October 23, the sources ‌said.

However, analysts polled by Reuters estimated that crude inventories rose by about 15,000 barrels in the week. The market awaits the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s official weekly inventory report, due later in the day, for more clarity.

The market will also monitor an upcoming industry meeting on Sunday (November 1, 2026), ‌where OPEC+ oil producers are expected to keep their December oil output ​targets steady, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Production in most of the seven core ⁠OPEC+ members — Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan and ⁠Oman — is below their output targets.

Crude oil exports from Russia’s Baltic and Black Sea ports could fall next ‌month as domestic refiners increase diesel output following a deal with Washington this month, traders said.