Crude oil rose above $92 a barrel on Wednesday after five consecutive sessions of losses as markets assessed efforts to restore flows disrupted by the Middle East conflict. Saudi Arabia is preparing to restart exports through its East-West pipeline in the coming days, potentially bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil-shipping chokepoint, and increasing outbound shipments. US President Donald Trump said American officials held a "very productive" meeting with Iranian envoys and that further talks were planned, despite his tough rhetoric toward Tehran during a United Nations speech. The American Petroleum Institute reported a 1.8-million-barrel rise in nationwide crude stockpiles, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell. Investors are awaiting official US Energy Information Administration data later Wednesday for further indications of supply and demand conditions.