The OPEC Reference Basket (ORB) ended October higher, increasing by $2.21, or 2.9% month-on-month (m-o-m), to average $79.39/b, the highest monthly average since October 2014. Crude oil futures also peaked in early October, hitting a four-year high, with ICE Brent reaching $86.29/b, as the market focused on concerns over potential oil supply shortages. ICE Brent increased by $1.52 m-o-m, or 2%, reaching $80.63/b in October, while NYMEX WTI rose by 67¢, m-o-m, or 1.0%, averaging $70.76/b. Year-to-date, ICE Brent was $20.54, or 39%, higher at $73.58/b, while NYMEX WTI increased $17.63, or 36%, to $67.23/b, compared with the same period a year earlier. The Brent-WTI spread widened by 85¢ reaching $9.87/b. Brent and Dubai backwardation structures eased over the month, coming under pressure from higher crude oil production and an oil price correction that concentrated in the prompt months. In the US, the WTI price structure flipped into contango for the first time since last May, reflecting weak supply and demand fundamentals in Cushing, Oklahoma. Hedge funds and other money managers slashed their combined speculative net length positions to end the month at their lowest levels in more than a year.
The global economic growth forecast for 2018 remains unchanged at 3.7%, while the 2019 forecast was revised down slightly by 0.1 percentage point (pp) to now stand at 3.5%, on the back of a slowing dynamic amid rising trade tensions, monetary tightening, particularly in the US, and mounting challenges in emerging markets and developing economies. In the OECD, growth in the US is assessed to be unchanged at 2.9% in 2018, but was revised slightly upward to 2.6% in 2019. Euro-zone growth was revised down to 1.9% for 2018 and to 1.7% for 2019. GDP growth in Japan remains at 1.1% in both 2018 and 2019 each. In the non-OECD countries, both India’s and China’s growth forecasts were revised slightly downward to 7.5% and 6.5% for 2018, respectively, and lowered to 7.2% and 6.1%, respectively, for 2019. Growth in Brazil remains unchanged at 1.1% in 2018 and at 1.8% in 2019. Russia’s GDP growth forecast is also unchanged at 1.6% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019.
In 2018, oil demand growth is anticipated to increase by 1.50 mb/d y-o-y, a downward revision from the previous month of 40 tb/d, mainly due to weaker-than-expected oil demand data from the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, China during 3Q18. Expected total oil demand for the year is anticipated to reach 98.79 mb/d. In 2019, world oil demand growth is forecast to grow by 1.29 mb/d y-o-y, about 70 tb/d lower than last month’s projection, with total world consumption to reach 100.08 mb/d. The OECD region will contribute positively to oil demand growth, increasing by 0.25 mb/d y-o-y, while the non-OECD region is assumed to see larger growth by 1.04 mb/d in 2019..
Non-OPEC oil supply growth in 2018 is estimated at 2.31 mb/d, an upward revision of 0.09 mb/d from the previous month’s assessment. The US, Canada, Kazakhstan and Russia are expected to be the main drivers for this growth, while Mexico, Norway, Vietnam and China are expected to show the largest declines. With this, total non-OPEC supply for 2018 is now estimated at 59.86 mb/d. In 2019, non-OPEC oil supply growth was revised up by 0.12 mb/d from the previous month, forecast to stand at 2.23 mb/d and is now projected to reach an average of 62.09 mb/d. The upward revision comes despite a downward adjustment for oil supply in Canada, China, Brazil and Mexico. The US, Brazil, Canada and the UK are expected to be the main growth drivers, while Mexico, Norway, Vietnam and Indonesia are still expected to see the sizeable declines. OPEC NGLs in 2018 and 2019 are expected to grow by 0.10 mb/d and 0.11 mb/d to average 6.34 mb/d and 6.45 mb/d, respectively. In October, OPEC crude oil production increased by 127 tb/d to average 32.90 mb/d, according to secondary sources.
Product Markets in the Atlantic Basin during October showed a mixed performance. In the US, product markets strengthened on the back of positive performance at the middle and the bottom of the barrels, as lower product output, due to peak maintenance season and considerable gasoil and jet/kerosene inventory drawdowns, provided a boost to refining margins. In Europe, product markets lost ground as gasoline cracks plummeted to new lows, exhibiting the highest y-o-y decline since December 2017. This, coupled with naphtha weakness weighed on cracks, despite support from the middle and bottom of the barrels. In Asia, product markets lost some ground as severe weakening at the top of the barrel, owing to regional gasoline oversupply, outweighed support from the bottom of the barrel, attributed to lower gasoil and fuel oil output.
Sentiment in the dirty tanker market strengthened considerably in October, as freight rates for all classes showed improvements on all major trading routes. Average dirty tanker spot freight rates rose by 28%, compared to a month earlier. Gains in the dirty tanker sector were driven by higher seasonal tonnage demand, weather delays in different regions, and ship replacements, among other factors. Nevertheless, tanker market gains in October were affected by higher bunker prices, thus raising operational cost. On the other hand, clean tanker freight rates also experienced gains in both directions of Suez, albeit to a lesser degree.
Preliminary data for September showed that total OECD commercial oil stocks rose by 5.5 mb m-o-m to stand at 2,858 mb. This was 111 mb lower than the same time one year ago, and 25.3 mb below the latest five-year average. Crude stocks indicated a deficit of 29.6 mb, while products stocks witnessed a surplus of 4.3 mb. However, OECD commercial stocks remain 287 mb above the January 2014 level. In terms of days of forward demand cover, OECD commercial stocks fell by 0.4 days m-o-m in September to stand at 59.3 days. This was 2.7 days below the same period in 2017 and 2.1 days lower than the latest five-year average.
Demand for OPEC crude in 2018 is estimated at 32.6 mb/d, 0.9 mb/d lower than the 2017 level. In 2019, demand for OPEC crude is forecast at 31.5 mb/d, around 1.1 mb/d lower than the estimate 2018 level.