U.S. crude oil inventories increased for the first time in 10 weeks, beating analyst’s expectations, as exports fell and refineries lowered their capacity use.

U.S. oil futures on Wednesday marked their lowest settlement price of the year so far after official data revealed a weekly rise in commercial crude inventories following nine consecutive weekly declines.

The crude oil markets are a little soft in the early hours of Wednesday, as the market is waiting for the crucial Federal Reserve interest rate announcement, and the inventory numbers coming out of the USA.