Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Alex Lawler News

Sources say that OPEC+ has agreed to delay the December production increase by one month.

Three sources within the producer group said on Sunday that OPEC+ had agreed to postpone by one month the planned increase in oil production for December, due to the weak demand, notably coming from China, and the rising supply from outside the group. The OPEC+, which consists of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia, and other allies was supposed to increase output by 180,000 barleys per day in the month of December. The increase was already postponed from October due to falling prices.

OPEC+ unlikely change policy on output at Oct. 2 panel

Five sources within the group said that despite recent drops in oil prices an OPEC+ panel will not recommend any changes this week to its current agreement to reduce production or to begin unwinding cuts made since December. On Wednesday, 1200 GMT, top ministers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) and its allies, led by Russia, will meet online to form a Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC). Brent crude oil prices fell in 2024. Last month, Brent crude dropped below $70 a barrel for the first since 2021.

New refineries bring down profits for global refiners

Oil refiners across Asia, Europe, and the United States have seen their profitability drop to multi-year-lows. This is a significant downturn in an industry which had previously enjoyed booming returns following the pandemic. It also highlights the global slowdown. This weakness is another sign of a softening consumer and industrial demand in China due to the slowing of economic growth and increasing penetration of electric cars. The pressure on prices has been exacerbated by the addition of new refineries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

OPEC lowers its global oil demand growth forecast for 2024 and 2025

OPEC cut its projection for the global oil demand in 2024 based on data collected so far this season. It also lowered its expectations for next year. This is the second successive downward revision by the producer group. The weaker outlook highlights the challenges that OPEC+ faces in balancing the markets. OPEC+ is made up of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, such as Russia. OPEC+ postponed a plan last week to pump more oil, after the prices fell to their lowest level since 2024.

Sources say that OPEC+ is likely to continue with its planned production increase from October.

OPEC+ will proceed with a planned increase in oil production from October as Libyan outages, and pledged reductions by some members, to compensate for the overproduction, counteract the impact of sluggish consumer demand, according to six sources within the producer group. Eight OPEC+ member countries are expected to increase their output by 180,000 barrels a day in October as part of a strategy to unwind the most recent layer (2.2 million bpd) of cuts while maintaining other cuts until end-2025.

Sources say that OPEC+ is likely to continue with its planned production increase from October.

OPEC+ will proceed with a planned increase in oil production from October as Libyan outages, and pledged reductions by some members, to compensate for the overproduction, counteract the impact of sluggish consumer demand, according to six sources within the producer group. Eight OPEC+ member countries are expected to increase their output by 180,000 barrels a day in October as part of a strategy to unwind the most recent layer (2.2 million bpd) of cuts while maintaining other cuts until end-2025.

Iranian Oil Exports End 2022 at a High, Despite No Nuclear Deal

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Iranian oil exports hit new highs in the last two months of 2022 and are making a strong start to 2023 despite U.S. sanctions, according to companies that track the flows, on higher shipments to China and Venezuela.Tehran's oil exports have been limited since former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 exited a 2015 nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions aimed at curbing oil exports and the associated revenue to Iran's government.Exports have risen during the term of his successor President Joe Biden…

OPEC Sees Global Oil Demand Growth Slowing in 2023

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World oil demand growth will slow in 2023, OPEC delegates and industry sources said, as surging crude and fuel prices help drive up inflation and act as a drag on the global economy.Fuel use has rebounded from the 2020 pandemic-induced slump and is set to exceed 2019 levels this year even as prices hit record highs. But high prices have eaten into growth projections for 2022 and fed into expectations for slower growth in 2023.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is expected to publish its first forecast for 2023 demand in July.

Asian Countries Looking to Release Oil Reserves after U.S. Request

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The world's biggest economies said on Thursday they were looking into releasing oil from their strategic reserves, following a rare request from the United States for a coordinated move to cool global energy prices.The U.S. move reflects frustration with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies such as Russia who have rebuffed Washington's requests to speed up oil production as the world economy rebounds from the pandemic.It also comes as U.S.

Oil Rises to 11-month High

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Oil hit an 11-month high just below $57 a barrel on Tuesday, bolstered by Saudi Arabia's plans to limit supply, offsetting worries that rising coronavirus cases globally would curtail fuel demand.Brent crude settled up 92 cents, or 1.7%, at $56.58 a barrel by after touching its highest level since last February at $56.75. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 96 cents, or 1.8%, to $53.28.Saudi Arabia plans to cut output by an extra 1…

Iran's Oil Storage Almost Full as Sanctions and Pandemic Weigh

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Iran has slashed crude oil production to its lowest level in four decades as storage tanks and vessels are almost completely full due to a fall in exports and refinery run cuts caused by the coronavirus pandemic, industry data showed.Total onshore crude stocks surged to 54 million barrels in April from 15 million barrels in January, and swelled further to 63 million barrels in June, according to FGE Energy.Market intelligence firm Kpler…

OPEC Production in June Cut by 1.25 mbpd

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OPEC has cut oil output in June by 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) from May levels as it works to implement a supply restraint agreement with Russia and other allies, according to estimates from tanker-tracking company Petro-Logistics.OPEC and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, agreed to cut supply by a record 9.7 million bpd from May 1 to offset an oil price and demand slump triggered by the coronavirus crisis.

OPEC, Russia Extend Record Oil Cuts

OPEC, Russia, and allies agreed on Saturday to extend record oil production cuts until the end of July, prolonging a deal that has helped crude prices double in the past two months by withdrawing almost 10% of global supplies from the market.The group, known as OPEC+, also demanded countries such as Nigeria and Iraq, which exceeded production quotas in May and June, compensate with extra cuts in July to September.OPEC+ had initially agreed…

Trafigura Takes a Bet with North Sea Oil

Ekofisk field in the North Sea - Credit: ConocoPhillips - Image for illustration

Commodities trader Trafigura has seized the moment and taken a rare dominant position in the North Sea crude market over the past two weeks as oil demand jumped, trading sources said.A combination of OPEC-led global production cuts, cheap freight rates, and oil stuck in floating storage sent crude markets into overdrive starting at the end of April as fuel demand looked set to pick up with easing lockdown.Differentials to benchmark dated Brent for grades around the world have shot up $6 a barrel in many cases…

Oil Price at Highest Since March

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Oil rose on Thursday to its highest since March, supported by lower U.S. crude inventories, OPEC-led supply cuts and recovering demand as governments ease restrictions on people's movements imposed due to the coronavirus crisis.Crude prices have slumped in 2020, with global benchmark Brent hitting a 21-year low below $16 in April as demand collapsed. With fuel use rising and mounting signs that the supply glut is being tackled, Brent has since more than doubled.Brent crude for July rose 42 cents, or 1.2%, at $36.17 per barrel at 0840 GMT.U.S.

OPEC Slashes Oil Demand Forecast Further

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OPEC on Thursday again slashed its forecast for global oil demand this year due to the coronavirus outbreak and said the reduction may not be the last.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries now expects global demand to contract by 6.9 million barrels per day, or 6.9%, in 2020, it said in a monthly report.

OPEC, Russia Approve Biggest-Ever Oil Cut to Support Prices

OPEC and allies led by Russia agreed on Sunday to a record cut in output to prop up oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic in an unprecedented deal with fellow oil nations, including the United States, that could curb global oil supply by 20%. Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus have destroyed demand for fuel and driven down oil prices, straining budgets of oil producers and hammering the U.S. shale industry, which is more vulnerable to low prices due to its higher costs.

OPEC+ Outlines Record Oil Production Cut; Mexico Balks

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OPEC, Russia and other allies outlined plans on Thursday to cut their oil output by more than a fifth and said they expected the United States and other producers to join in their effort to prop up prices hammered by the coronavirus crisis.But the group, known as OPEC+, said a final agreement was dependent on Mexico signing up to the pact after it balked at the production cuts it was asked to make. Discussions among top global energy ministers…

Saudi, Russia Closing in on Record Oil Cut Deal

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OPEC and it allies held talks on Thursday on record oil output curbs of about 15 million barrels per day (bpd) or more, roughly 15% of global supplies, to support prices hammered by the coronavirus crisis, sources involved in the discussions said.They said the plan included cuts of about 5 million bpd from producers outside the group known as OPEC+ and could be made gradually, as the group seeks to overcome resistance from the United States…

OPEC+ Debates Biggest Ever Oil Output Cut as Virus Destroys Demand

OPEC and allies are working on a deal for an unprecedented production cut equivalent to around 10% of global supply, an OPEC source said after U.S. President Donald Trump called on oil nations to stop the oil rout caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting of OPEC and allies such as Russia has been scheduled for Monday, April 6, Azeri's energy ministry said, but details were still thin on the exact distribution of production cuts. Oil…