A U.S. official said Iran's oil loadings averaged about 200,000 bpd over the past 30 days, down from roughly 1.8 mln bpd in Jan-Feb.

China domestic futures closed mixed in the morning session. Benzene hit the daily limit; SC crude and styrene (EB) rose over 5%; propylene and fuel oil gained more than 3%; plastics (monthly avg), asphalt, paraxylene (PX) and polypropylene (monthly avg) were up over 2.5%. On the downside, rapeseed oil fell more than 2%; palm oil, synthetic rubber, peanuts, live hogs, coke, pulp, rapeseed meal, red dates and manganese-silicon declined over 1%.

EUR/USD little changed in short-term trade, currently 1.1613.