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OPEC cuts Q1 oil demand growth estimate by 440k bpd on coronavirus outbreak

OPEC releases its latest report on the oil market

OPEC
  • 2020 oil demand growth outlook cut by 230k bpd to 0.99 mil bpd
  • Coronavirus outbreak adds to uncertainties for oil market this year
  • The situation needs continuous monitoring
  • To face oil surplus of 570k bpd in Q2
The downward revisions are not surprising as they don’t just see the virus having an impact on the oil market in Q1, but also for larger portions of the year.
This is in part why they are trying to push forward with the additional output cuts but so far we are still waiting on a response from Russia regarding the latest proposal.
The thing about Russia is that, they always play hard ball but eventually cave when it comes to OPEC+ executing new output cuts. However, that doesn’t mean they will necessarily contribute and the bulk of the responsibility will fall on Saudi Arabia instead.

How coronavirus will impact oil markets – OPEC considering production cuts

The terrible human toll continues to increase.

Taking a look at oil though, this via Platts (S&P Global Platts is an energy and commodities information house).
Latest (in brief):
  • forecasting a drop of 200,000 b/d in oil demand for the next two to three months, reflecting roughly 15% of the expected oil demand growth in 2020
  • If the coronavirus is as bad as the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, oil demand could fall by 700,000-800,000 b/d, reflecting more than half of the expected demand growth for 2020
  • OPEC members are considering deeper production cuts, or extending their existing deal, in response to a slump in oil prices, according to a source in the group.”The next two weeks are very critical for not only the oil market but the global economy,” the OPEC source said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Bolding above is mine.
oil markets - OPEC said to be considering production cuts

US to Iraq: Kick out our military and we will seize your central bank accounts

US puts the petrodollar at risk

US puts the petrodollar at risk
The US warned Iraq that if it kicks American forces out of the country, it would lock the country out of its central bank accounts held at the New York Fed.
Iraq uses the account to settle oil sales of oil and other international transfers.
Iraq’s elected legislature voted last week to expel US troops who were invited to the country to fight ISIS in 2014. The Prime Minister moved forward with those plans this week in a call with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The threat may spark a shift away from US dollar use and pricing in the international oil trade. It could also cause other countries to reconsider keeping money or other financial assets in the United States.
An adviser to the prime minister, Abd al-Hassanein al-Hanein, said that while the threat of sanctions was a concern, he did not expect the U.S. to go through with it. “If the U.S. does that, it will lose Iraq forever,” he said.
In its most-recent disclosures from end-2018, Iraq’s central bank said it held $3 billion in overnight deposits at the NY Fed.

EIA lowers US 2020 crude production estimate to 13.18 mbpd from 13.29 mbpd prior

EIA lowers 2020 supply outlook after OPEC

  • Sees supply for 2020 at 102.29 mbpd vs 102.58 mbpd prior
  • Demand seen at 102.14 mbpd vs 102.27 mbpd prior
  • EIA forecasts OPEC crude oil production will average 29.3 million b/d in 2020, down by 0.5 million b/d from 2019
  • Latest report
The swing producer in the world is now shale. In this report, the EIA said it expects total US crude oil and petroleum net exports to average 570,000 bpd in 2020 but that’s down from 750,000 bpd in last month’s estimate.
They continue to see a rise of 0.9 mbpd in US production this year, that’s slower than the 1.3 mbpd rise this year but still above private forecasts, which have fallen to 0.6 mbpd (and lower).

US State dept: Effort to assist Iranian tanker could be viewed as support to terrorist organization

Might be some oil impact from this:

A US State department official says any effort to assist Iranian tanker could be viewed as material support to a US-designated foreign terrorist organization

In reference to

  • US has conveyed its strong position to the Greek government about Iranian tanker it says is transporting illicit oil to Syria

IEA cuts 2014 global oil demand forecast by 60k to 1.29mbpd

  • Cuts 2014 forecast for non OPEC oil supply growth by 250k to 1.5mbpd
  • Lower Russian projections drive estimates lower
  • OPEC crude supply fell in March by 890k to 29.62mbpd on Iraq, Libya & Saudi
  • Says market balances indicate OPEC will need to raise output in second half of year
  • OECD commercial oil stocks fell by 6.5m in Feb to 2.567tn barrels

Brent crude has been looking slightly cheaper on the cut in demand forecast and the 108.30/50 level is still the level that needs to be broken for a push up. 

Visualizing How Plunging Oil Prices Affect Currencies.The world consumes 93 million barrels of oil, which is worth $4.2 billion

PETRO STATE
 

Every day, the world consumes 93 million barrels of oil, which is worth $4.2 billion.

Oil is one of the world’s most basic necessities. At least for now, all modern countries rely on oil and its derivatives as the backbone of their economies. However, the price of oil can have significant swings. These changes in price can have profound implications depending on whether an economy is a net importer or net exporter of crude.

Net exporters, countries that sell more oil abroad than they bring in, feel the sting when prices plunge. Less revenue gets generated, and this can impact everything from balancing the budget to the value of their currency in the world market. (more…)

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