Energy Update Libya will not determine prices The end of the port blockade in Libya should mean that the country’s oil production is restored, but we think that supply will be slow to return not least because of damage to facilities and weak... 3rd July 2020 · 3 mins read
Commodities Update Taking a look at our oil price forecasts In light of the recent revision to our China economic growth forecast and our expectation that the rebound in equities has further to run, we have revisited our oil price forecasts for the year ahead... 25th June 2020 · 4 mins read
Energy Update US gasoline demand will take time to fully recover Gasoline demand in the US is recovering from the coronavirus-related slump. However, we think that it will take some time before consumption fully returns to its pre-virus level. 22nd June 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update Launching our coal switching price indicator Our new coal switching price indicator (CSPI) shows that, in the UK and the Netherlands, power generation using natural gas is much more cost-effective than coal. While this has been true for a while... 18th June 2020 · 4 mins read
Energy Update Renewables take the shine off European fossil fuels The virus-related economic disruption has already dealt a huge blow to fossil fuel usage in European power generation. What’s more, we suspect that the transition towards renewables may be accelerated... 16th June 2020 · 4 mins read
Energy Update OPEC+ is obviously worried about demand As expected, OPEC+ extended its 9.7m bpd production cut for another month (until end-July). Given that prices have rallied strongly in recent weeks, the group’s caution reflects the still-high level... 8th June 2020 · 2 mins read
Energy Update OPEC+ to extend duration of deeper output cuts OPEC+ is expected to meet in the next few days. Despite reports of rifts amongst its members, we think that it will agree to extend its current 9.7m bpd production cut for at least another month. 5th June 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update Newcastle coal prices to remain grounded Coal prices should receive their usual seasonal uplift later this year. Nevertheless, we think that the average price of Newcastle coal will fall in 2020 and 2021 owing to weak demand and strong... 3rd June 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update Geopolitics take a back seat … for now Quarantine measures associated with COVID-19 have seen geopolitical disputes, such as US-Iran tensions, seemingly fall under the radar of energy traders. That said, the national security law imposed... 28th May 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update Natural gas price convergence to be short-lived In recent weeks, all three major natural gas benchmarks have traded at more-or-less the same price. Rather than a structural shift in the market, we think this probably reflects regional prices simply... 18th May 2020 · 2 mins read
Energy Update Global oil supply to fall to a five-year low Low oil prices, OPEC+ production cuts and delays to investment should reduce global oil supply by over 6% this year. This is one reason why we expect prices to end the year higher. 11th May 2020 · 4 mins read
Energy Update Texas regulator unlikely to succeed where OPEC failed Next week, the Texas Railroad Commission could mandate measures to curb oil production in Texas for the first time since the 1970s. However, even if they do decide to curtail output, we think that the... 30th April 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update Compliance by OPEC’s allies to improve over time OPEC’s allies recently agreed to cut output from May. While compliance with quotas is usually sub-par, we think that adherence to the quotas will be greater this time, in part because oil prices are... 24th April 2020 · 3 mins read
Commodities Update WTI tumbles below zero as the oil storage runs out The spot price of WTI turned negative yesterday in large part owing to the nature of trading in the futures market. That said, the price slump has some fundamental underpinning as demand is very weak... 21st April 2020 · 3 mins read
Energy Update SPR buying to have limited impact on oil prices The collapse in oil prices in recent months has incentivised governments to increase their strategic petroleum reserves (SPRs). However, we don’t think that it will provide a boost to prices. 17th April 2020 · 2 mins read
Commodities Update Record output cut provides scant relief for now The unprecedented 9.7m bpd output cut announced by OPEC+ will merely reduce the oversupply of oil in the second quarter. But assuming full compliance, and an involuntary drop in North American... 14th April 2020 · 3 mins read