BLBG: OPEC Cuts 2009 Crude Oil Demand Forecast for a Second Month
By Grant Smith
Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, supplier of more than 40 percent of the world's oil, lowered its 2009 demand forecast for a second month as the worst financial crisis since the 1930s threatens a global recession.
OPEC will hold an extraordinary meeting on Nov. 18 in Vienna, after its decision to trim excess supplies at last month's gathering failed to check a slump in prices, which have tumbled 49 percent from their July record. The group told members on Sept. 10 to strictly comply with production quotas, implying a cut of about 500,000 barrels a day.
``Dramatically worsening conditions in financial markets indicate strong fallout on the real economy is now inevitable,'' the report said. ``Ongoing financial market turmoil is expected to continue to impact oil demand well into the coming year.''
The 13-member group reduced its forecast for average oil consumption next year by 450,000 barrels a day, or 0.5 percent, to 87.21 million barrels a day, according to a monthly oil market report today. OPEC, based in Vienna, also cut its forecast for demand this year by 330,000 barrels a day.
Last week, the International Energy Agency, an adviser to 28 nations, cut its forecast for global oil demand next year by 0.5 percent to 87.2 million barrels a day.
The International Monetary Fund said in its latest World Economic Outlook on Oct. 8 that the world's most advanced economies will grow at the slowest pace since 1982 next year.
OPEC Demand
OPEC lowered its expectation for demand for its own crude in 2009 by 190,000 barrels a day, or 0.6 percent, to 31.14 million barrels a day. That means demand for OPEC's oil would shrink by 870,000 barrels a day next year.
In 2008, demand for OPEC crude is assessed at 32.01 million barrels a day, 10,000 barrels lower than last month.
OPEC also lowered its prediction for supplies from outside the group this year and next following storm damage in the Gulf of Mexico and pipeline disruptions in Azerbaijan.
The group acknowledged that next month's summit, announced last week is in response to ``recent financial turmoil'' that may ``considerably reduce demand for crude oil.''
OPEC president Chakib Khelil said on Oct. 9 that a production cut is ``very likely.'' Iranian Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari today agreed that a reduction is the most likely outcome of the Nov. 18 summit. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest exporter, hasn't said whether it would support a cut.
Outside Supplies
OPEC forecast supply from outside the 13-member group to rise by 970,000 barrels a day, or 2 percent, in 2009 to 50.7 million barrels a day. Last month it forecast 2009 non-OPEC supply at 50.81 million barrels a day.
The group shaved its 2008 projection for non-OPEC production by 200,000 barrels a day to 49.74 million barrels a day. Industrialized countries' own output will decline by 270,000 barrels a day.
Total OPEC crude production averaged 32.157 million barrels a day in September, a drop of 308,600 barrels a day from August, the report said, citing secondary source estimates that include analysts and news agencies.
Saudi output fell by 113,600 barrels a day in September to 9.377 million barrels a day, according to the report.
OPEC's 13 members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Indonesia will leave the group on Jan. 1.
To contact the reporter on this story: Grant Smith in London at gsmith52@bloomberg.net.