A worker walks past oil pipes at a refinery in Wuhan, Hubei province March 23, 2012. [Source: Reuters]

Oil prices slipped on Monday but were holding near their highest levels this month as easing COVID restrictions in China raised hopes of a demand recovery in the world’s top crude importer.

Brent crude fell $1.08, or 1.3%, to $84.20 a barrel by 2041 GMT.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.01, or 1.3%, at $78.85 in thin trade on a U.S. public holiday.

Both contracts rose more than 8% last week for the biggest weekly gains since October after China abandoned what remained of its zero-COVID policy by reopening its borders on Jan. 8.

China’s crude imports rose 4% year-on-year in December, and an expected resurgence in travel for the Lunar New Year holiday at the end of the week raised the outlook for demand for transportation fuels.

Traffic levels in China are rebounding from record lows after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in stronger demand for crude and oil products, ANZ analysts said in a note.

But reports over the weekend highlighting an increase in COVID-19 deaths tempered sentiment.

The United Arab Emirates energy minister, Suhail al-Mazrouei, said on Monday that oil markets were balanced.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Agency will release their monthly reports this week, watched closely for indications on the outlook for global demand and supply.

Investors will also keep an eye on the World Economic Forum in Davos, which opened on Monday, and a Bank of Japan meeting this week to determine if it will defend its super-sized stimulus policy.