Crude oil shipments from Libya are at a virtual standstill as reduced production and bad weather hamper exports from the world's 12th-largest producer, shipping sources said on Monday.
Muammar Gaddafi's forces have been trying for days to push back a revolt that has won over large parts of the military, ended his control over eastern Libya and is holding the government at bay in western cities near Tripoli.
Libya's Hamada oilfield has ceased production, and the eastern fields of Sarir, Nafoora and Misla are producing at about half their normal capacity, an official at a Libyan state-owned oil company told Reuters on Sunday.
Shipping sources said bad weather in the Mediterranean had meant at least four tankers carrying around 2.4 million barrels of crude oil were unable to either load or leave Libyan ports.
"Only Es Sider is operating. In theory, Zuetina has reopened but nothing is loading," said an oil trader in the Mediterranean.
Oil prices jumped toward $120 a barrel last week for the first time since 2008 because of the disruption in Libya. Prices have since eased to $112, partly because top world exporter Saudi Arabia has promised to meet any shortages.
The key export terminal of Marsa el Brega in the east, which is under rebel control, remained closed, shipping sources said.
"Nothing has changed since the weekend, and our vessel in Marsa is still waiting to load," a shipping source said.
Sources said continuing communications difficulties with Libya had made it hard to get complete information on port conditions, which was leading to conflicting reports. Several said disruptions were affecting shipments on Monday.
Other shipping sources said the eastern port of Zuetina was open. "We have a tanker that is berthing at Zuetina to load propane," a shipper said on Monday.
About half of Libya's 1.6 million barrels per day of production has been cut, Fatih Birol, chief economist with energy watchdog the International Energy Agency, told Reuters Insider TV, citing industry reports.
In Libya's third city, Misrata, 200 km (125 miles) to the east, and Zawiyah, a strategic refinery town 50 km to the west, rebels with military backing were holding the town centres against repeated government attacks.
Other shipping sources said the port of Zawiyah, fed by the Murzuk oilfields, was also believed to be open.
Foreign firms have been pulling staff out of Libya and China's three major state-owned oil and gas companies have evacuated all their Chinese employees, the companies said.
Muammar Gaddafi's forces have been trying for days to push back a revolt that has won over large parts of the military, ended his control over eastern Libya and is holding the government at bay in western cities near Tripoli.
Libya's Hamada oilfield has ceased production, and the eastern fields of Sarir, Nafoora and Misla are producing at about half their normal capacity, an official at a Libyan state-owned oil company told Reuters on Sunday.
Shipping sources said bad weather in the Mediterranean had meant at least four tankers carrying around 2.4 million barrels of crude oil were unable to either load or leave Libyan ports.
"Only Es Sider is operating. In theory, Zuetina has reopened but nothing is loading," said an oil trader in the Mediterranean.
Oil prices jumped toward $120 a barrel last week for the first time since 2008 because of the disruption in Libya. Prices have since eased to $112, partly because top world exporter Saudi Arabia has promised to meet any shortages.
The key export terminal of Marsa el Brega in the east, which is under rebel control, remained closed, shipping sources said.
"Nothing has changed since the weekend, and our vessel in Marsa is still waiting to load," a shipping source said.
Sources said continuing communications difficulties with Libya had made it hard to get complete information on port conditions, which was leading to conflicting reports. Several said disruptions were affecting shipments on Monday.
Other shipping sources said the eastern port of Zuetina was open. "We have a tanker that is berthing at Zuetina to load propane," a shipper said on Monday.
About half of Libya's 1.6 million barrels per day of production has been cut, Fatih Birol, chief economist with energy watchdog the International Energy Agency, told Reuters Insider TV, citing industry reports.
In Libya's third city, Misrata, 200 km (125 miles) to the east, and Zawiyah, a strategic refinery town 50 km to the west, rebels with military backing were holding the town centres against repeated government attacks.
Other shipping sources said the port of Zawiyah, fed by the Murzuk oilfields, was also believed to be open.
Foreign firms have been pulling staff out of Libya and China's three major state-owned oil and gas companies have evacuated all their Chinese employees, the companies said.
