IEA: Global Oil Supply to Swamp Demand

The global oil market will struggle this year to absorb fast-growing crude supply from outside OPEC, even with the group’s production cuts and US sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, the International Energy Agency said in a report on Wednesday.
The IEA left its demand growth forecast for 2019 unchanged from its last report in January at 1.4 million barrels per day, CNBC reported.
“It is supported by lower prices and the start-up of petrochemical projects in China and the US slowing economic growth will, however, limit any upside,” the agency said. 
The IEA raised its estimate of growth in crude supply from outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to 1.8 million bpd in 2019, from 1.6 million bpd previously. 
The “call” on OPEC crude is now forecast at 30.7 million bpd in 2019, down from the IEA’s last estimate of 31.6 million bpd in January. 
US sanctions on Iran and Venezuela have choked off supply of the heavier, more sour crude that tends to yield larger volumes of higher-value distillates, as opposed to gasoline. The move has created disruption for some refiners, but has not led to a dramatic increase in the oil price in 2019. 
“In terms of crude oil quantity, markets may be able to adjust after initial logistical dislocations (from Venezuela sanctions)”, the Paris-based IEA said. 
“Stocks in most markets are currently ample and ... there is more spare production capacity available.” 
Venezuela’s production has almost halved in two years to 1.17 million bpd, as an economic crisis decimated its energy industry and US sanctions have now crippled its exports.