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Russell: Crude oil prices fall as negative factors increase.

The crude oil market is now expecting a decline in prices. At the largest gathering of the industry in Asia, the discussion was more about timing rather than direction.

The outlook for prices is the main topic of discussion and presentations at the APPEC annual conference. This week was no exception.

The market has changed and this year the bull was the least sighted amongst a sea full of bearish participants.

The two factors that dominated APPEC, despite the fact that there are a number of factors that influence crude oil prices were OPEC+'s decision to continue unwinding the production cuts as well as the risk to the global economic system from President Donald Trump's trade and geopolitical policy.

First, there is the supply factor. The market expects OPEC+ to continue adding barrels as gaining market share has become a higher priority now than defending prices.

The decision by OPEC+ to reduce production on September 7, 2013 to 137,000 barrels a day (bpd), was largely viewed to be minor and unlikely in itself to change the market balance.

What is significant is that it is expected that the producer group - which includes the top exporters Saudi Arabia, and Russia - will continue to grow their output through the first half 2026, and unwind the 1,65 million bpd in cuts since April 2023. They have already stopped an additional 2.2 millions bpd cut from November 2023.

Although it is unlikely that all these barrels make their way to market, with global demand forecasts at a maximum 1 million bpd for this year and the next, OPEC+ are likely to add enough to overwhelm the demand increase.

Market consensus is heavily skewed towards an overhang of supply in the coming months due to the likelihood that non-OPEC output will also increase, particularly from the Americas outside the United States.

Demand is also a clouded by uncertainty, mainly due to the impact of Trump's tariffs on imports.

The impact of raising the average tariff for goods imports to 18% from 2% varies, but there is a consensus that it will slow down growth and increase inflation in the U.S., but lower inflation elsewhere.

HIDDEN BULLS

APPEC was not all gloom and doom. Some positive factors were also discussed.

The bullish case depends on some things going better than anticipated, and others getting worse.

The world economy is on the bright side, as it has been largely unaffected by the Trump attacks. Consumer sentiment and spending are holding strong in developed economies, while developing economies continue to be able to attract trade and investment.

The worst case scenario would be to take more aggressive and successful measures to reduce the flow to India and China of Russian crude oil, which are the only two major buyers of oil that have been sanctioned in an effort to end Moscow’s war against Ukraine.

It is also possible that more effective measures could be taken against Iranian and Venezuelan crude oil. There is also the risk of an increase in tensions between Israel and Hamas, given the conflict.

The risk premium on the crude oil market is in some ways largely determined by what Trump decides to do.

Ironically, the only thing that the unpredictable and inconsistent U.S. president has consistently said is that he wants to lower oil prices.

It is the fear of what he may do that keeps a risk premium on the market and helps to keep Brent futures around $65 per barrel.

Unknown is also what strategies China's refiners will likely adopt in the coming months.

The International Energy Agency recommends 90 days import coverage. They are storing huge quantities of crude oil this year. Some estimates have reached 600,000 barrels per day. Their total storage now is estimated between 1.2 and 1.4 billion.

China's stockpiles have been built largely due to discounted Russian barrels, and the lower prices for other grades of oil in the second quarter this year.

The Chinese could be moving towards the idea that oil prices should be set at a range of $50 to $60, and they may begin to reduce imports to help lower the price.

You like this column? Check out Open Interest, your new essential source of global financial commentary. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X and Twitter. Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman

(source: Reuters)