Oil may not escape a recession
Those who believe a global recession has been avoided may be mistaken, with huge ramifications for the oil market in 2024
The theme for oil demand expectations at the beginning of 2024 is that the US and Chinese economies will prove their resilience and global crude consumption patterns will hit new records. It is a fragile and, arguably, misplaced assumption that could see oil prices slump and OPEC’s market management tested to its limits as supply tries not to overwhelm demand. Oil demand will increase by 1.1m b/d in 2024, according to the IEA. This is 130,000b/d above the agency’s previous estimate as it now assumes a better economic outlook for the US and a soft landing. OPEC echoes this bullishness, with its December oil market report highlighting an increase of 2.2m b/d, which is the same as its November
Also in this section
9 April 2026
The April 2026 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!
9 April 2026
Offshore operators are working through an FID backlog as the rig market consolidates, helped by improving project economics and a renewed security drive
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term






