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The makings of an oil market glut The decision by OPEC+ to accelerate the pace of output hikes in August cements our view that the downward pressure on oil prices will intensify over the next 18 months or so. Admittedly, we assume that OPEC+ will slow the …
7th July 2025
Note: we will be discussing oil, industrial metals tariffs, and more in an online briefing on Wednesday 4th June at 3pm BST. You can register here . Pressure picks up in commodity markets OPEC+’s announcement that it will continue to add oil to the market …
4th June 2025
Downside risks from OPEC+ and Trump crystalise OPEC+’s announcement that it will pick up the pace of oil output increases for the second consecutive month in June helped to push oil prices to four-year lows. This represents a marked shift in policy from …
8th May 2025
Trump and OPEC+ cloud the outlook Commodity prices have been on a rollercoaster ride but, on net, many prices remain lower than before “Liberation Day”. In the coming months, our base case is that the 90-day pause on tariffs will be extended. That said, …
10th April 2025
Weak global demand a risk to OPEC+ plans The recent confirmation from OPEC+ that it intends to go ahead with the plans to gradually increase oil production from April has coincided with ongoing signs of weakness in global oil demand. Although OPEC+ has …
6th March 2025
Trump’s curveballs have limited sway in oil markets With oil prices back to where they were at the start of the year, the oil market has offered a collective shrug to the geopolitical curveballs thrown its way. Although Canada and Mexico have been granted …
10th February 2025
Commodities Chart Pack (Jan. 2025) …
8th January 2025
Commodities Chart Pack (Dec. 24) …
10th December 2024
OPEC+ and China, not Trump, will drive prices in 2025 Trump’s election victory won’t have a big impact on commodity markets in the short term. US oil and gas production is near record highs and prices, not policy, will be the key driver of drilling next …
7th November 2024
It’s too soon to say whether the Iranian missile strikes on Israel are the start of a conflict that will eventually result in oil supply being affected or if oil prices will drop back as the heightened risk premium in prices gradually unwinds. For now, we …
3rd October 2024
OPEC+ to face stick or twist moment at next meeting The recent slide in oil prices, to a 14-month low of $73pb at the time of writing, makes the looming OPEC+ decision on whether to unwind its voluntary production cuts even more of a close call. On the …
5th September 2024
US recession fears mask growing Middle East risks Commodities have not been immune to the recent turmoil in financial markets, with the prices of most industrial metals, agricultural, and energy commodities extending their downward trends over the past …
7th August 2024
China overcapacity fears coming to industrial metals China’s dominant role in the world of commodities is evolving subtly. This is particularly the case for gold, where increased demand by the PBoC and Chinese retail investors has weakened the importance …
3rd July 2024
OPEC+’s decision to roll over its production cuts into Q3 will keep supply constrained in the near term. But the unwinding of some of these cuts from October will mean that the oil market is better supplied over 2025 and oil prices should fall. Ample gas …
6th June 2024
The agreement by OPEC+ to rollover voluntary production cuts into Q3 will keep global oil supply constrained and should support oil prices over the rest of this year. Meanwhile, natural gas prices have continued to rally on the back of risks to Europe’s …
5th June 2024
The rally in industrial metals prices over the last few months has begun to unwind and, because it seemed based on excessive optimism, we think prices will fall further over the coming months. After all, while industrial metals demand will recover this …
4th June 2024
We think that oil prices have further to fall, as we expect OPEC+ to gradually increase output later this year. Prices have recently fallen as worries that the conflict in the Middle East could affect oil supply have eased. Natural gas prices in the US …
8th May 2024
The fall in oil prices since Iran and Israel’s back-and-forth attacks suggests that some of the risk premium in prices has now unwound. Prices continue to be supported by OPEC+ production cuts but we suspect that members will gradually unwind these cuts …
7th May 2024
The strong rally in industrial metals prices seems stretched and, as a result, we expect prices to ease lower by end-year. After all, while industrial metals demand will recover this year, boosted by a combination of interest rate cuts, a recovery in …
Recent increases in natural gas prices in Europe have predictably been mirrored in the EU carbon price, which has risen from a 31-month low of €52 per tonne in February to €71 at the time of writing. The rise in European natural gas prices has been driven …
18th April 2024
We expect oil prices to edge lower in the second half of 2024 as OPEC+ starts to unwind its production cuts. However, the Israel-Hamas war, and associated risks to supply, will act as a floor under prices. Natural gas and coal prices will also fall owing …
12th March 2024
Oil prices have so far shrugged off disruptions to shipping in the Red Sea and the risk of wider conflict in the Middle East. Prices were supported by the OPEC+ decision to roll over production cuts until Q3. We expect that the group will gradually unwind …
11th March 2024
Industrial metals demand will recover this year, boosted by rate cuts and a bit of a recovery in economic growth in advanced economies. That said, recovering supply will cap price rises for some metals, such as aluminium and nickel. Policies outlined at …
8th March 2024
Oil prices are likely to remain buffeted by supply fears as long as the conflict in the Middle East continues. However, we think there will be support on the demand side later in the year as monetary policy in most major economies is loosened. By …
6th February 2024
Energy prices have so far shrugged off disruptions to shipping in the Red Sea and the risk of wider conflict in the Middle East. If energy production continues to be largely unaffected, we expect most prices to fall further by the end of the year. Greater …
5th February 2024
Industrial metals demand will recover this year, boosted by rate cuts and stabilising economic growth in advanced economies. In addition, construction activity in China is robust and we think support for property developers will stabilise the sector and …
2nd February 2024
This is a special Global Economics Chart Pack that provides clients with key analysis to make sense of the macro and market impact of the disruptions to maritime shipping. The charts in this document come from our brand-new shipping dashboard , which …
25th January 2024
Following a period of upward pressure on renewable and battery costs in recent years, the tide is turning once again. This partly reflects declines in key input costs such as lithium, as well as huge growth in global manufacturing capacity, particularly …
18th January 2024
Commodities Overview Chart Pack (Jan. 2024) …
5th January 2024
Energy prices will fall in 2024, although we think the big falls are now behind us. Supply has not been directly affected, but the Israel-Hamas conflict together with the tensions in the Red Sea have increased volatility in energy markets. We expect oil …
4th January 2024
Interest rate cuts across advanced economies this year will give some boost to economic activity, although it will remain relatively subdued. Nonetheless, industrial metals demand growth will pick up. Supply growth will cap price rises for some metals, …
3rd January 2024
Energy and precious metal prices will remain volatile while there is a risk that the war between Israel and Hamas expands to include other countries in the region. For now, energy supplies have been largely uninterrupted, and prices should remain close to …
3rd November 2023
Energy prices will remain historically high over the remainder of this year. The Israel-Hamas conflict has increased volatility in energy markets, but supply has not been disrupted. Oil prices will remain high as OPEC+ output cuts keep supply constrained. …
2023 is on track to be the warmest year on record, but somewhat ominously the headwinds to the green transition have strengthened this year. Some of these will prove temporary, particularly as short-term policy interest rates start to come down. That …
19th October 2023
Prices will remain buffeted by weak global economic growth and a strong dollar, at a time of mounting supply risks and some policy stimulus in China. These conflicting pressures suggest that prices will be fairly rangebound in the coming months. In …
8th September 2023
China’s announced support for the property sector and the extent of fiscal stimulus is modest, but it will help to support base metals demand in the coming months. Accordingly, we expect prices to tread water over the rest of 2023. Prices should rise in …
6th September 2023
Energy prices will remain historically high over the remainder of this year. OPEC+ output cuts, which have kept the oil market constrained, will continue until the end of the year, while demand in the US and China has held up. The natural gas market …
Weak economic activity in developed economies and a stronger dollar will temper gains in most commodity prices over the rest of the year. In oil markets, Saudi Arabia’s output cuts have kept supply constrained while demand in the US and China has held up. …
9th August 2023
Energy prices will remain historically high over the remainder of this year, albeit significantly lower than their peak in 2022. Supply in the oil market is constrained and demand appears to be holding up well. The natural gas market appears comfortably …
We expect targeted stimulus in China to put a floor under base metals prices in the remainder of 2023. But the slowdown in developed economies (DMs) will prevent significant gains. Prices should start to pick up in 2024 as monetary easing takes hold in …
8th August 2023
China’s recent announcement of export restrictions on two metals used to make semiconductors serves as a reminder that China dominates production of metals needed for the green transition. We have warned in the past that the green transition is unlikely …
20th July 2023
Overview – Most commodity prices have moved lower over the past month as concerns about demand loomed large and the US dollar strengthened. We think that prices will continue to struggle over the next few months, but energy and metals prices should rise …
7th June 2023
Overview – Most commodity prices have moved lower over the past month as concerns about demand have intensified and risk appetite has soured. We think prices will continue to struggle over the next few months as tight monetary policy feeds into slowdowns …
16th May 2023
In this new quarterly publication, the Capital Economics’ Climate and Commodities teams will track and analyse developments in the transition to a greener global economy. The sharp increases in the lifetime costs of wind and solar projects since 2021 …
26th April 2023
Overview – We think prices will drop a little further in the coming months as economic slowdowns in advanced economies weigh on commodities demand, even as China’s economic recovery takes hold. However, the prospect of a higher for longer Federal Funds …
2nd March 2023
Overview – We think prices will ease back in the coming months as optimism about China’s reopening is tempered and slower economic activity in advanced economies weighs on demand. However, the prospect of Fed easing and stronger economic growth in 2024 …
3rd February 2023
Overview – We think slower global economic activity and a somewhat stronger US dollar will weigh on commodities prices in the coming months. However, the recession should prove relatively shallow and we expect prices to be picking up in late 2023, boosted …
5th December 2022
Overview – Energy prices have been falling recently as concerns about weaker demand took centre-stage, but we expect constrained supply to put a floor under prices in the coming months. By contrast, we expect industrial metals prices to fall further given …
14th September 2022
Overview – Non-energy commodities prices generally fell in June on the back of concerns about the outlook for demand amid global monetary tightening and slower economic growth. Energy prices may also fall a little from here, but constrained supply will …
6th July 2022
Overview – Energy and agricultural prices continued to rise in May as concerns about supply more than offset signs that demand, at least for energy, could soften. We expect prices to remain historically high but to start to ease back later in the year as …
7th June 2022
