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The US Energy Department said recently that it expects oil
to average $101 a barrel this year - a big upward revision
from its January forecast.
The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for crude
oil prices traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange, which
averaged $72.32 per barrel in 2007, are projected to average
$101 per barrel in 2008 and $92.50 per barrel in 2009. The
EIA had predicted $87-a-barrel oil in January, for 2008.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) unit of the
Department of Energy, expects American drivers, truckers and
airlines to use less fuel this year as the economy slows.
That could take some pressure off prices for gasoline and
other fuels and keep the price of gasoline under a US average
of $4 a gallon.
The EIA said that the projected higher costs for crude oil
will contribute to higher petroleum product prices. Motor
gasoline prices are projected to average $3.36 per gallon
in 2008 - up 55 cents from last year. Diesel prices are projected
to show even larger increases in 2008, averaging $3.62 per
gallon - or 74 cents above the 2007 average price.
The monthly average gasoline price is projected to peak at
about $3.60 per gallon this spring, while monthly diesel prices
are expected to average about $3.90 per gallon in March and
April. Weekly diesel prices have already crossed the $4.00-per-gallon
threshold in many regions of the country.
US consumption of liquid fuels and other petroleum is expected
to decline in 2008 by about 85,000 barrels per day (bbl/d)
as a result of the economic slowdown and high petroleum prices.
After accounting for increased ethanol use, US petroleum consumption
is projected to fall by 210,000 bbl/d in 2008.
While a year ago, breaching the $100 a barrel threshold wasn't
inconceivable, it's surprising that the $100+ price has become
the norm with so much ease.
The EIA predicts that even with falling consumption in the
US, oil demand world-wide will jump by 1.2 million barrels
a day this year.
The agency says that inventories are improving in the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries
- but, given the lack of surplus capacity and geopolitical
concerns in Nigeria, Venezuela and Iraq, a higher level of
commercial inventories is desirable.
The magnitude, breadth and duration of any global economic
slowdown will certainly influence market conditions over the
near-term. The increase in non-OPEC production in the second
half of the year, however, is expected to contribute to increases
in OPEC surplus crude oil production capacity and ease upward
price pressures toward the end of the year.
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