The discount on Western Canada Select to North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate futures widened on Friday.
WCS for November delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, settled at $10.65 a barrel under the U.S. benchmark WTI, according to brokerage CalRock, compared to Thursday’s close of $10.60.
* The WCS discount has been tight this month, contrary to the typical seasonal pattern that usually sees the discount widen after the end of the summer driving season.
* Canadian crude oil production continues to rise. The oil-producing province of Alberta’s crude output was 4.2 million barrels per day in August, according to the Alberta Energy Regulator, the highest on record for that month.
* Brent and U.S. crude futures fell more than $2 a barrel, or more than 3%, on Friday as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose increased tariffs on China cast a shadow over the demand outlook in a market seen as over supplied.
(Reporting by Georgina McCartney in Houston; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)