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Difficult times for Germany’s downstream
Europe’s refining sector is desperately trying to adapt to a shifting global energy landscape and nowhere is this more apparent than in its largest economy
Global oil benchmark resolves its existential crisis
The addition of US crude to the world’s top oil benchmark has finally solved its North Sea conundrum and laid down a marker for the future
Oil trading’s biggest bust – MG: The death spiral and aftermath
Kevin O’Reilly concludes the cautionary tale of the German conglomerate’s overreach with what went very, very wrong
Oil trading’s biggest bust – MG: Enter Arthur Benson
Kevin O’Reilly continues his three-part account of the hobbling of a German industrial giant with the arrival of the story’s central figure
Oil trading’s biggest bust – MG: What started to go wrong?
Kevin O’Reilly, with 27 years commodity trading experience, dives into one of the most compelling tales of how not to hedge your risks in the first of a three-part series
Chinese energy demand gets back on track
The signs point towards a comeback in 2023, but uncertainty around Covid remains a factor
Arrow flies against Colombian headwinds
The company does not seem concerned about the effect on its growth plans of the new government’s proposed oil sector reforms, and is even looking at potential acquisitions
US oil output to set new record
Partisan political rhetoric has not prevented production growth
Outlook 2023: High prices are a cure for high prices
History shows that the demand impact keeps any oil market spikes strictly temporary in nature
Letter from China: Anger erupts at Covid policy
The revolt against zero-Covid is significant but is unlikely to sway Beijing this winter
Covid-19 Oil markets
Mike Wittner
18 December 2020
Follow @PetroleumEcon
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In hope of greater market certainty

The key questions for 2021’s oil markets remain tough to answer. But milestones on the road will make the picture clearer

Coronavirus has dominated the oil markets this year, and the same is expected for next year. Front-month Ice Brent prices surged by $10-12/bl in early December compared with end-of-October levels, trading at c.$47-49/bl, the highest prices seen since March. Markets have been buoyed by positive developments on Covid-19 vaccines, which are expected to boost the global economy and oil demand through the second half of 2021. From a demand perspective, oil traders are simultaneously dealing with two extremes: a potential worsening situation in the coming few months from coronavirus infections, the global economy and oil demand, but, in the second half of next year, the exact opposite. At this ear

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