OPEC cuts 2022, 2023 oil demand development view as financial system slows By Reuters

By Alex Lawler

LONDON (Reuters) – OPEC on Wednesday minimize its 2022 forecast for development in world oil demand for a fourth time since April and in addition trimmed subsequent yr’s determine, citing slowing economies, the resurgence of China’s COVID-19 containment measures and excessive inflation.

Oil demand will enhance by 2.64 million barrels per day (bpd) or 2.7% in 2022, the Group of the Petroleum Exporting Nations (OPEC) mentioned in a month-to-month report, down 460,000 bpd from the earlier forecast.

“The world financial system has entered right into a time of heightened uncertainty and rising challenges, amid ongoing excessive inflation ranges, financial tightening by main central banks, excessive sovereign debt ranges in lots of areas in addition to ongoing provide points,” OPEC mentioned within the report.

The decrease demand outlook offers extra context for final week’s transfer by OPEC and its allies, referred to as OPEC+, to make their largest minimize in output since 2020 to assist the market.

America criticized the choice. Nevertheless, on Wednesday, the U.S. Power Division additionally lowered its expectations for international output and consumption in 2023.

Even after the downgrade, OPEC nonetheless expects demand development to be stronger this yr and subsequent than the Worldwide Power Company, which points its newest forecasts on Thursday.

Subsequent yr, OPEC sees oil demand rising by 2.34 million bpd, 360,000 bpd lower than beforehand forecast, to 102.02 million bpd. OPEC nonetheless expects demand in 2023 to exceed the pre-pandemic fee of 2019.

The U.S. Power Division, against this, sees demand rising by 1.5% in 2023 to 101.03 million bpd, down from 101.50 million bpd forecast final month. It additionally solely expects a 0.8% enhance in manufacturing to 100.73 million bpd subsequent yr.

OPEC minimize its 2022 international financial development forecast to 2.7% from 3.1%, trimmed subsequent yr’s determine to 2.5% and mentioned there was potential for additional weak spot.

“Main draw back dangers nonetheless exist,” OPEC mentioned, including there was a restricted upside potential from such elements as fiscal measures within the European Union and China, and any decision to the Ukraine battle.

Oil costs, which have been weakening in response to fears concerning the financial system, closed decrease, buying and selling under $93 a barrel.

SUPPLY RISE

OPEC+ has for many of this yr been ramping up oil output to unwind document cuts put in place in 2020 after the pandemic slashed demand.

The group’s resolution for September 2022 referred to as for a 100,000 bpd enhance in its output goal, of which about 64,000 bpd was meant to return from the ten taking part OPEC nations.

The report confirmed OPEC output rose by 146,000 bpd to 29.77 million bpd in September, led by Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Nonetheless, OPEC is pumping far lower than referred to as for by the OPEC+ settlement as a result of under-investment in oilfields by some members.

OPEC expects world demand for its crude to common 29.4 million bpd subsequent yr, down 300,000 bpd from final month and implying a surplus of 370,000 bpd ought to output proceed at September’s fee and different issues stay equal.

Nonetheless, the OPEC+ output minimize agreed final week runs for all of 2023 and is far bigger, at 2 million bpd.