OPEC boosts 2014 demand estimate as Iraq pumps most since 1980
OPEC bolstered forecasts for the amount of crude it will need to provide this year as the economic recovery stokes global fuel consumption. Iraq, its second largest member, pumped the most oil since 1980.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, responsible for 40% of the world’s oil supply, said its 12 members will need to produce an average of 29.7 million barrels a day this year, 100,000 a day more than forecast last month. The amount required is about 400,000 barrels a day less than the group said it pumped in February, when output surpassed 30 million a day for the first time since August.
OPEC’s Vienna based secretariat said in its monthly market report that “The global economy will see a gradual recovery in 2014, led by growth acceleration in developed economies. A key determinant for this increase in world oil demand will be the pace of growth in the emerging economies.”
West Texas Intermediate, the American benchmark crude, advanced to a 4 month high of USD 104.92 a barrel on March 3 amid signs that recovery is gaining momentum in the US, the world’s largest oil consumer. Prices have subsequently slipped, trading at about USD 99 a barrel today, amid concern that growth may slow in emerging economies such as China.
Global oil consumption will increase by 1.14 million barrels a day or 1.3%, this year to an average of 91.14 million a day. That’s 50,000 a day more than the estimate in last month’s report.
According to OPEC data, Iraq’s production jumped by 400,000 barrels a day to 3.4 million a day in February, the highest since 1980.
The group said citing data from secondary sources that “Total OPEC crude production increased by 258,600 barrels a day in February to 30.1 million, the highest level since August, as Iraq compensated for reductions in Libya and Saudi Arabia. Group output is in line with its current collective target of 30 million barrels a day.”
Supplies from Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest exporter, declined by 101,900 barrels a day to 9.63 million.
OPEC also raised estimates for supplies from outside the group in 2014, by 30,000 barrels a day. Non OPEC producers, led by the US, Canada and Brazil, will increase production by 1.31 million barrels a day to 55.49 million a day.
OPEC’s 12 members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Venezuela. The group will next meet on June 11 in Vienna to discuss output targets.
Source - Bloomberg