At last check, the WTI grade of crude oil was trading down $1.27 at $44.66.
Surplus Woes
Analyst Damien Courvalin estimates a global surplus of 400 kilo barrels per day in the fourth quarter compared to the 300 kb/day draw estimated earlier. The surplus assumption is conservative, as it assumes only a limited additional increase in Libya/Nigeria production, the analyst said.
Goldman noted that oil prices remained range bound ahead of the OPEC consultation in Algiers this week and the failure of production disruptions to meaningfully increase. While noting that OPEC members are more unanimous than before, the firm said it expects production by Saudi to decline into the year end, while the rest of the cartel is expected to show no change. The firm expects OPEC, excluding Libya/Nigeria to see growth resuming only in the first quarter of 2017.
Trivial Production Declines: Bearish
The base case forecast of Goldman sees the decline in combined OPEC production, excluding Nigeria and Libya, to be only be 340 kb/day in the fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2017, growth of 140 kb/day is estimated.
Q4 Price Forecast Slashed
As such, Goldman lowered its crude oil price forecast for the fourth quarter to $43 per barrel from $50 barrel. Although a deal could be bullish for prices, the firm sees offsetting impact from the potential for less disruptions and still relatively high net long speculative positioning, which leaves the risks skewed to the downside going into the year-end.
Balance Seen In 2017
However, Goldman's 2017 outlook for a more balanced demand and supply scenario is unchanged. The firm expects resilient demand growth, with bigger than previously expected production declines in the U.S., Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and China being offset by greater visibility in the large 2017 project ramp up in Canada/Russia/Kazakhstan/North Sea.
Goldman pitched its 2017 oil price estimate at $52 per barrel, with prices expected to range between $45 and $50 in the first half. According to the firm, low cost and disrupted supply will determine an eventual price recovery.
Do you have ideas for articles/interviews you'd like to see more of on Benzinga? Please email feedback@benzinga.com with your best article ideas. One person will be randomly selected to win a $20 Amazon gift card!© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
date | ticker | name | Price Target | Upside/Downside | Recommendation | Firm |
---|
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.