In spite of the ongoing—and worsening—trade spat between the United States and China, Goldman Sachs has maintained its price forecast for West Texas Intermediate at US$70 for this year, CNBC reports, citing commodities head Jeffrey Currie.
Despite a string of weekly losses for WTI clearly linked to the escalation between the United States and China, Currie believes that global economic growth will support higher average prices for the year.
"When we look at the fundamental picture, it really hasn't changed. You've seen substantial liquidation, really off of the headline risk around tariffs, but the underlying fundamental story and the case for owning commodities, as well as oil, really remains intact,” Currie said.
In support of Currie’s sentiment, China stopped short of imposing import tariffs on U.S. crude oil, which some saw as a way of keeping the oil card on the table for future use. Others, like Currie, interpreted it as the only move that makes sense under the current circumstances.
“The reason why is it can be redirected,” he told CNBC. “You're not going to impact oil because there's so many producers, so many consumers."
China is hardly the most replaceable importer of oil for any exporter, including the United States, given the amount of crude it takes in. Chances are that U.S. producers would find it challenging to quickly find new markets for the over half a million barrels daily they sold to China in June. Yet with the Iran sanctions, the challenge may not be as great as it would have been otherwise.
But it seems that for Currie, the most important factor is demand. Demand is strong, according to him, and this could even lead to a shortage given the decline in global inventories and the fact that Saudi Arabia has not ramped up supply as quickly as it was expected.
By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com
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If the escalating US tariffs start to seriously hamper China’s exports to the US, China could easily switch to other markets around the globe. China’s economy is far more integrated in the global trade system than the US economy and also bigger by 24%. Therefore, tariffs or no tariffs, the Chinese economy needs a huge amounts of oil to keep functioning.
China’s insatiable thirst for oil is underpinned by two major factors: a fast-growing economy and a declining domestic oil production.
China’s oil imports are projected to top 10 mbd in 2018 driven by a very healthy economic growth for a mature economy projected at 6.7% this year and declining oil production from China’s two largest oilfileds: Daqing and Shengli.
Whilst China’s oil production is projected to decline to 3.85 million barrels a day (mbd) in 2018, its dependence on oil imports is projected to account for 73% of its oil needs this year rising to 76% in 2020 and 80% by 2025.
China will remain the most influential driver of the global economy for the foreseeable future. Oil demand from China not only will underpin global demand but also oil prices.
President Trump’s discredited “America First” policy has antagonized both trade allies and rivals with nothing to show for the US economy. It is hoped he will soon see the error of his ways.
Dr Mamdouh G Salameh
International Oil Economist
Visiting Professor of Energy Economics at ESCP Europe Business School, London
I didn't think so...
This non-stop bullish sentiment from them needs to stop.
Now, you can look at the fundamentals, perform technical analysis, consider geopolitical and even weather information, but let's be honest:
They will say whatever they can say to keep oil up because they're long on oil futures.
As of late, most headlines throw around the same recycled moniker "Oil up on renewed sanctions on Iran".
The actual bottom line results in two factors if prices do rise--producers will be happy, but consumers won't be. I wonder which of those two overpopulates the other...
So, if you are bullish on oil, then you're speculating a rise by however much which calculates a profit of whatever if prices do reach that target. Have you at least considered then, as a market participant, that you can get the same amount of profit AND make consumers happy AND "stick-it" to OPEC by calling their bluff by shorting the market instead?
All you need is movement...and just remember that this time last year prices on WTI were $20-$25/bbl cheaper.