"Survey: Growth risks to restrain oil prices this year"

" Survey: Growth risks to restrain oil prices this year \r\n Oil prices\u00a0will struggle for traction this year as global economic headwinds stymie gains that could be fuelled by a rebound in China and OPEC+ cuts, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. \r\n The survey of 37 economists and analysts forecast Brent crude would average US$83.03 a barrel in 2023, versus the US$84.73 consensus in May. \r\n The global benchmark, now trading around US$75 a barrel after having shed about 13% thus far in 2023, was seen averaging US$83.28 in the third quarter before popping above the US$86 mark in the next two quarters. \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Reuters Graphics \r\n Forecasts for U.S. crude were also scaled back to US$78.38 a barrel in 2023 from last month\u2019s US$79.20. \r\n The third quarter will be a \u201cmake-or-break quarter ahead as lofty demand growth expectations from OPEC and IEA need to come to fruition to avoid additional downward pressure on prices,\u201d said Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank\u2019s head of commodity strategy. \r\n Goldman Sachs said this week that rising interest rates would remain a \u201cpersistent drag\u201d on oil. \r\n But while the rising rates and weaker economic readings from\u00a0China\u00a0have weighed on oil markets, some analysts saw prices getting a small fillip from\u00a0stimulus measures\u00a0and OPEC+ supply\u00a0curtailments\u00a0led by Saudi Arabia. \r\n Earlier this month, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said the OPEC+ output deal sharply increases prospects of higher prices, while Saudi Aramco predicted demand from China and India would offset recession risks in developed countries. \r\n \u201cThere\u2019s been little sign of weakness in China\u2019s oil demand even if the general reopening boost has disappointed some investors. China\u2019s refineries produced at record levels over the first five months this year,\u201d said Ian Moore, senior research associate at Bernstein. \r\n \u201cFurther growth should come as economic activity continues to expand, albeit at a slower rate.\u201d \r\n Global oil demand is forecast to grow between 1 to two million barrels per day (bpd), as per the poll. \r\n Five respondents also predicted a supply deficit in the second half of 2023. \r\n\r\n \r\n The deficit would come even as Russia\u2019s seaborne oil exports hit a four-year record in May, Refinitiv Eikon data showed, as Moscow caters to demand from India, China and Turkey. \r\n \u201cOnce these deficits become visible in on-land oil inventories, we expect prices to trend higher,\u201d said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. \r\n Respondents also largely agreed that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would take measures to keep the floor for oil prices at US$80. \r\n\r\n "

"Survey: Growth risks to restrain oil prices this year"

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