LONDON—The International Energy Agency (IEA) trimmed its 2020 oil demand forecast on Sept. 15, citing caution about the pace of economic recovery from the pandemic.
The Paris-based IEA cut its 2020 outlook by 200,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) to 91.7 million bbl/d in its second downgrade in as many months.
“We expect the recovery in oil demand to decelerate markedly in the second half of 2020, with most of the easy gains already achieved,” the IEA said in its monthly report.
“The economic slowdown will take months to reverse completely ... in addition, there is the potential that a second wave of the virus (already visible in Europe) could cut mobility once again.”
Renewed rises in COVID-19 cases in many countries and related lockdown measures, continued remote working and a still weak aviation sector are all hurting demand, the IEA said.
China—which emerged from lockdown sooner than other major economies and provided a strong prop to global demand—continues a strong recovery, while a virus upsurge in India contributed to the biggest demand drop since April, the IEA said.
Increasing global oil output and the downgraded demand outlook also mean a slower draw on crude oil stocks which piled up at the height of lockdown measures, it added.
The agency now predicts implied stock draws in the second half of the year of about 3.4 million bbl/d, nearly one million bbl/d less than it predicted last month, with July storage levels in developed countries again reaching record highs.
However, preliminary data for August showed industry crude oil stocks fell in the United States, Europe and Japan.
As output cuts eased among producers from OPEC and allies such as Russia, global oil supply rose by 1.1. million bbl/d in August.
After two months of increases, recovery among countries outside the OPEC+ pact stalled, with production in the United States falling 400,000 bbl/d as Hurricane Laura forced shut-ins.
Recommended Reading
Meta, Sage Geosystems Enter Geothermal Deal
2024-08-26 - Sage Geosystems says the company will use its geopressured geothermal system to provide Meta’s data centers with carbon-free power.
Marketed: Henry Energy Non-op Delaware Basin Divestiture
2024-08-26 - Henry Energy LP has retained RedOaks Energy Advisors for the sale of certain non-operated working interest properties in Reeves County, Texas.
Weatherford Announces Acquisition of Technology Company Datagration
2024-09-03 - The acquisition gives Weatherford International digital offerings for production and asset optimization and demonstrates its commitment to continuously driving innovation across its technology portfolio, the company said.
Crescent-SilverBow Deal Leaps Last FTC Hurdle
2024-07-08 - The ending of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act satisfies an important condition needed to complete Crescent Energy Co.’s acquisition of SilverBow Resources.
CEO: Devon Eyes 3-Mile Williston Wells With $5B Grayson Mill Deal
2024-07-08 - Devon Energy is digging deeper in the Williston Basin of North Dakota through a $5 billion deal with EnCap-backed Grayson Mill Energy.