IEA: Oil demand and supply close to new peaks

Both global oil demand and supply are now close to new, historically significant peaks at 100 mb/d, and neither show signs of ceasing to grow any time soon, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said.

According to IEA’s report from last Friday, fifteen years ago, forecasts of peak supply were all the rage, with production from non-OPEC countries supposed to have started declining by now. In fact, production has surged, led by the U.S. shale revolution, and supported by big increases in Brazil, Canada, and elsewhere.

In the future, a lot of potential supply could come to the market from places like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, and Venezuela, if their various challenges can be overcome. There is no peak in sight for demand either. The drivers of demand remain very powerful, with petrochemicals being a major factor, the agency added.

In a new IEA study “The Future of Petrochemicals”, the agency pointed out that rising living standards, particularly in developing countries, are already underpinning strong demand growth for plastics and this will continue for many years to come.

Brent crude oil is now established above $80/bbl, with infrastructure constraints causing North American prices to lag somewhat. Nonetheless, IEA believes that expensive energy is back with oil, gas, and coal trading at multi-year highs and it poses a threat to economic growth.

For many developing countries, higher international prices coincide with currencies depreciating against the U.S. dollar, so the threat of economic damage is more acute. The global economy is also at risk from trade disputes.

In this report, the agency revised demand outlook reflects these concerns: growth in both 2018 and 2019 will be 110 kb/d lower than IEA’s earlier forecast.

‘More supply might be needed’ 

Since May, when the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the JCPOA and its decision to impose sanctions, the Vienna Agreement parties, plus Libya and Nigeria but excluding Iran, Mexico, and Venezuela, have increased total oil production by a combined 1.6 mb/d.

At the same time, total U.S. supply has increased by 390 kb/d. Even China has seen the first year-on-year production growth in nearly three years in response to higher prices. Official statements from Saudi Arabia suggest that October exports are back to the high levels seen in June and that more oil is available for those who wish to buy it.

Meanwhile, output in Iran, Mexico, and Venezuela has fallen by 575 kb/d. New data for OECD stocks show that in August they increased by a more-than-normal 16 mb and have been relatively stable for several months after falling significantly following the implementation of the original Vienna Agreement.

The IEA welcomes this boost to supply; however, with Iran’s exports likely to fall by significantly more than the 800 kb/d seen so far, and the ever-present threat of supply disruptions in Libya and a collapse in Venezuela, the market is clearly signalling its concerns that more supply might be needed.

“It is an extraordinary achievement for the global oil industry to meet the needs of a 100 mb/d market, but today, in 4Q18, we have reached new twin peaks for demand and supply by straining parts of the system to the limit. Recent production increases come at the expense of spare capacity, which is already down to only 2% of global demand, with further reductions likely to come. This strain could be with us for some time and it will likely be accompanied by higher prices, however much we regret them and their potential negative impact on the global economy,” IEA said.