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OPEC cuts 2022 world oil demand forecast

World Materials 13 April 2022 08:32 (UTC +04:00)
OPEC cuts 2022 world oil demand forecast

OPEC on Tuesday cut its forecast for growth in world oil demand in 2022 citing the situation in Ukraine, rising inflation as crude prices soar and the resurgence of the Omicron coronavirus variant in China, Trend reports citing Reuters.

In a monthly report, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said world demand would rise by 3.67 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2022, down 480,000 bpd from its previous forecast.

Oil prices soaring above $139 a barrel, the highest since 2008, worsening inflationary pressures. Crude has since fallen as the United States and other nations announced plans to tap strategic oil stocks to boost supply, but remains over $100.

"While it is forecast that both Russia and Ukraine will be facing recessions in 2022, the rest of the global economy will be thoroughly impacted as well," OPEC said in the report.

"The strong rise in commodity prices in combination with ongoing supply-chain bottlenecks and COVID-19-related logistical logjams in China and elsewhere are all fuelling global inflation."

Even so, world oil consumption is expected to surpass the 100 million bpd mark in the third quarter, as OPEC has predicted. On an annual basis according to OPEC, the world last used more than 100 million bpd of oil in 2019.

OPEC said inflation was the major factor impacting the world economy and lowered this year's economic growth forecast to 3.9% from 4.2% and said there was a chance of a further cut.

"Further downside risks to this forecast are estimated to be considerable, to stand at more than half a percentage point, especially if the current situation extends into the second half of 2022 or even worsens," the report said.

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