Oil Prices Fall on Worries About China COVID-19 Surge, Global Recession

A view shows Chao Xing tanker at the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia, on Aug. 12, 2022. Tatiana Meel/Reuters

LONDON—Oil prices fell on Wednesday on concerns that rising COVID-19 cases in China, the world’s top oil importer, will disrupt its economic recovery and fuel demand growth as it unwinds its pandemic restrictions.

Brent futures for February delivery fell 78 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $83.55 a barrel, by 0900 GMT. U.S. crude fell 75 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $78.78 per barrel.