Crude Oil Prices Climb Ahead of OPEC+ Meeting
CRUDE OIL PRICE OUTLOOK:
- Oil prices are steady on Wednesday after API reported a larger-than-expected fall in crude inventories
- OPEC+ will meet to discuss easing pandemic-era production cuts on Thursday
- WTI is challenging a key chart resistance at $73.5, but upward momentum is fading
Crude oil prices held gains during Wednesday’s APAC session, trading near two-and-half year highs. Risk appetite was revitalized after a lab report showed that Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is effective in producing antibodies against the Delta variant - a newly found viral strain from India. Yet, questions remain on the production capacity and distribution of Moderna’s vaccine as viral strains continue to spread and mutate.
The Delta variant was attributed to the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the UK and Australia, threatening a new round of lockdowns and travel restrictions around the world. This may cast a shadow over the recovery of global energy demand, especially among countries that have relatively slow vaccination progress. A worsening pandemic situation may limit upside potential for crude oil prices.
Meanwhile, OPEC+ will meet to discuss easing production curbs further in August to meet rising fuel demand. A Bloomberg survey shows that the oil cartel may increase output by 550k bpd in August, which is only a fraction of an estimated global supply shortfall of 3 million bpd. Therefore, tight market conditions may warrant a slow and gradual output increase without causing significant price volatility.
The oil cartel and its allies have slashed production by more than 5 million bpd since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. During a April meeting, OPEC+ decided to lifted output cuts by 2.15 million bpd from May to July as demand rebounded sharply (chart below).
Expected OPEC+ Production Hike in August 2021
News from DailyFX
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