United States crude inventories unexpectedly declined, supporting crude oil prices. On January 28, international crude oil prices rose to their highest level since September 2025.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on January 28 that crude oil stockpiles fell by 2.3 million barrels for the week ending January 23, reducing inventories to 423.8 million barrels. This result sharply contrasted with expectations from a Reuters analyst poll, which had forecast an increase of 1.8 million barrels.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for March delivery increased by US$0.82 (1.31%), reaching US$63.21 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery rose by US$0.83 (1.23%) to US$68.40 per barrel.