Oil Demand Growing at Fastest Pace in Five Years, Says IEA

Demand for oil is increasing at its fastest pace in five years, boosted by an oil-price drop below $50 a barrel, a top energy watchdog said Wednesday, as it sharply upgraded its consumption-growth forecast for the commodity.

But in a blow to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ strategy to defend its market share, the International Energy Agency said lower oil prices would only start to dent rival production next year.

In its closely watched monthly report, the IEA said global oil demand would grow by 1.6 million barrels a day this year, an upward revision of 200,000 barrels a day from its previous forecast, and would keep rising by 1.4 million barrels a day next year. The organization—which advises industrialized nations on energy—said consumers were responding to lower oil prices while macroeconomic prospects were better than expected.

“Oil’s plunge below $50 barrels a day from triple digits a year ago has seen demand react more swiftly than supply,” the IEA said. “Against this backdrop, many participants in the oil industry have adopted a new mantra – ‘lower for longer’.” (by JOHN DEUTCH, Wall Street Journal)

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