The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other nations (OPEC+) have made a major move to address the oil market volatility by prolonging deep production reductions till 2025. It has been made amid the existence of various economic issues and serves to achieve a balance in the provision of energy across the world.
Global Oil Demand
The global oil demand has failed to revive from the slowdown it experienced during the pandemic. OPEC+ understands that supply should be closely regulated in a bid to avoid oversupply and guarantee high prices.
Interest Rates and Current Reductions
High interest rates affect investments and economic growth. Here, OPEC+ aims at fostering the right conditions for sustained recovery by tackling this issue.
OPEC+ currently enforces deep reductions in oil output, equivalent to 5.86 million barrels per day (bpd). This reduction was to the tune of 5.7% of world oil demand.
Surge in the Production of U.S. Oil
American oil production has risen in the recent past, and this has shifted the supply-demand ratios across the globe. OPEC+ seeks to neutralize the effects of the rise in U. S. production on the prices of oil.
Mandatory Cuts and Extensions
Initially planned to occur by the end of the year 2024, the mandatory cuts of 3.66 million bpd until the end of the year 2025. Originally intended to last until June 2024, the reduction of production by eight members (2.2 million bpd) will be extended for three months starting from March 2024 till the end of September 2024. They will decline voluntarily after September 2024 over the year ending September 2025.
Market Stabilization and Favorable Conditions
OPEC+ reaffirms its stance on market stability. In supply management specifically, the group seeks to prop up oil prices and avoid sharp volatility.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman describes the group’s plan. The OPEC+ is waiting for a better economic environment to make any change in their production levels. These include lower interest rates and consistent global economic growth among others.
Estimation of OPEC and IEA’s Average Demand
OPEC forecasts that demand for OPEC+ crude will average 43.65 million bpd in the second half of 2024. If the group’s output stayed at the level of April (41.02 million bpd), this scenario indicates a stock drawdown of 2.63 million bpd.
However, this drawdown will decrease as the 2.2 million bpd voluntary cuts phase out from Oct 2024 onwards. The IEA paints a lower average demand for OPEC+ oil together with stocks (41.9 million bpd in 2024).
Conclusion
OPEC+ demonstrates its efforts to maintain a stable oil market through the production cut. Continuing complexities in supply, demand, and economic conditions help shape the post-pandemic recovery.
The current decision of OPEC+ to demonstrate large-scale oil production reduction till 2025 proves their commitment to market stability. Their goal is to balance and stabilize the market of oil through regulating supply and taking into account economic factors.
Image Source: Business Insider
