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Josh Owens

Josh Owens

Josh Owens is the Content Director at Oilprice.com. An International Relations and Politics graduate from the University of Edinburgh, Josh specialized in Middle East and…

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Why Oil Markets Aren’t Focused On The Election

OPEC Elections Oil Prices

As the world tunes in to the U.S. election, oil markets are actually more interested in COVID developments and OPEC+ promises

Chart of the Week

-    OPEC is on track to earn $323 billion in net oil export revenues this year, the lowest in 18 years.

-    In 2019, OPEC earned $595 billion in export revenues. Back in 2012, the group took in $1.2 trillion.

-    Brent averaged $71 per barrel in 2018, $64 in 2019, and is on track to average $41 in 2020.   

Market Movers

-    Chevron (NYSE: CVX) again delayed the restart of its Train 2 at its Gorgon LNG project in Australia, which has been offline since May for maintenance. 

-    ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) wants Australia to give more aid to refineries after BP (NYSE: BP) said it would shut its refinery in the country.

-    ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral with a $44 price target by Bank of America, citing “attractive risk/reward.”  

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

The world is holding its breath as American voters head to the polls. The oil market, however, likely won’t see much influence on prices either way, at least not immediately. Near-term price movements will be much more influenced by COVID-19 and other market fundamentals. Prices sank over the past week due to renewed lockdown orders in Europe, although crude rebounded rather strongly in early trading on Tuesday on hopes of OPEC+ action. 

Oil industry sees opening with Biden. Former Vice President Joe Biden is ahead in the polls, and the oil industry is maneuvering to prepare for more regulation. Biden recently said that he wants to U.S. to transition away from oil, but the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s most powerful lobby, said it would “seek to engage a Biden transition team.” Two areas of potential opportunities include tax credits for carbon capture technologies, and easing trade tensions with China, which would boost oil and gas exports. 

Related: Oil Prices Under Pressure Again As Supply Climbs

Oil and gas industry hope for continuity. If Biden wins, energy analysts say that there may not be dramatic changes affecting oil and gas drilling. Biden has pledged not to ban fracking, except on new drilling on federal lands, a comparatively small slice of the industry. Other analysts suggest Biden could be bullish for oil prices – federal stimulus and a renewed trade focus could be beneficial. CNBC looks at other areas of potential change or continuity. Meanwhile, if Trump defies the polls and wins reelection, analysts say the industry will see more of the same: deregulation, a push for maximum production, friendly treatment, but uncertainty on trade.

Oil and gas to be “decoupled”? Under a Biden administration, oil could get tougher treatment, while natural gas could find a home in the transition under Biden.  

Oil rises on potential OPEC+ delay. OPEC+ signaled a potential willingness to postpone the easing of the production cuts. “This big selloff last week was a wake-up call to the OPEC+ group,” said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC. “The renewed shoulder-to-the-wheel type of action that appears to be emerging is helping to support prices.”

OPEC+ to consider deeper cuts? Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members are considering deepening oil production cuts amid rising Covid-19 cases in the West and fresh economic lockdowns in Europe that could curb oil demand further, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Covid trajectory worsening. The UK recently announced a partial nationwide lockdown, becoming the latest European nation to impose new restrictions. Traders say oil demand could fall 1 or 2 mb/d for November in Europe. 

Argentina to subsidize Vaca Muerta. The Argentine government recently announced a plan to subsidize oil and gas in the Vaca Muerta shale on the order of $5.1 billion over four years. The basin has struggled to attract investment despite lots of hype. The government hopes that the new supports will spark a drilling boom, which would help the country’s ailing economy. 

Rystad: Covid accelerates peak demand. Global oil demand will peak at 102 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2028, Rystad Energy said on Monday, noting that the push to low-carbon energy and the coronavirus pandemic will speed up the peak oil demand timeline to 2028 from 2030 previously expected.

Shell upgraded. Cowen upgraded shares to Outperform from Market Perform with a $31 price target, after Shell “introduced lower CAPEX guidance from refocusing its Upstream portfolio, setting a trajectory to materially improve free cash flow with potential acceleration of shareholder returns by early 2022.”

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MPLX starts up Permian pipeline. MPLX (NYSE: MPLX) says the main segment of its Wink-to-Webster pipeline in Texas started operations in October and will be available for shippers in the fourth quarter. The pipeline has a capacity of more than 1 mb/d. 

Gas drillers outperforming oil drillers. Over much of the past decade, oil-focused drillers performed better than their gas-focused peers. Now the situation has reversed. Natural gas prices have climbed sharply in recent months while crude remains in the doldrums. The market cap of the six largest gas companies has increased by 18% since the start of the year, while the 25 largest oil companies plunged by 53% over the same period. 

Aramco maintains dividend. Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL: 2222) said it would maintain its $18.75 billion quarterly dividend.  Related: Venezuela’s Oil Major Sees Oil At $35 Through 2021

New energy vehicles to capture 20% in China by 2025. EVs and hydrogen-vehicles could make up 20% of new car sales in China by 2025, according to the Chinese government. 

Guyana production rises above 100,000 bpd. Crude production from ExxonMobil’s (NYSE: XOM) Stabroek block off Guyana has climbed to 105,000 b/d. 

Libya’s production could hit 1 mb/d by February. According to Rystad Energy, Libya could boost oil production to 1 mb/d by February 2021. The firm says Libya probably averaged 375,000 bpd in October. 

Venezuela's Oil Exports Continue To Plunge. Venezuela’s crude oil exports last month fell further, to a low of 359,000 bpd, Reuters reported, citing official data.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com 

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