Oil futures prices are below $38 but there is a glimmer of hope in EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) released today–world consumption increased in November and supply fell.

OPEC did what everyone expected last week–nothing–and oil markets reacted badly. Brent futures fell 15% from $47.44 before the OPEC meeting on Friday (December 4) to $40.25 today (December 8). I have been saying that oil prices have been too high based on fundamentals and need to move lower in order for oil markets to balance.

Now we may be seeing the beginnings of that trend. In November, world liquids supply fell 190,000 bpd and consumption increased 320,000 bpd (Figure 1).



Figure 1. World liquids supply and consumption, July 2013-November 2015.

Source: EIA STEO December 2015 & Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.

(click image to enlarge)

That lowers the production surplus (supply minus consumption) to 1.34 million bpd (Figure 2) which is not great but is a big improvement–a 520,000 bpd decrease–over October and is one of the better months of 2015.



Figure 2. World liquids production surplus of deficit and Brent crude oil price.

Source: EIA STEO December 2015 & Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.

(click image to enlarge)



Most analysts are focused on the over-supply but I worry more about demand. Lower prices have forced producers to cut back and world production has been falling for the last 4 months. Demand is a tougher problem because people have to change their behavior and use more oil. Consumption is not the same as demand but it is a proxy and has increased year-over-year for 3 consecutive months (Figure 3) despite the medium-term downward trend (3-month moving average).



Figure 3. Year-over-year world liquids consumption change.

Source: EIA STEO December 2015 & Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.

(click image to enlarge)

Although U.S. production continues to decline, the EIA has revised the amount of decrease downward over the past 2 months (Figure 4).



Figure 4. U.S. crude oil production.

Source: EIA STEO December 2015 & Labyrinth Consulting Services, Inc.

(click image to enlarge)



U.S. production has declined 420,000 bopd since April but last month’s estimate was -490,000 bopd and the September estimate was -590,000 bopd. Although U.S. production is important, it alone will not fix the world supply surplus. At the same time, I expect it will continue to decline and EIA forecasts a decrease of 1.12 million bopd by September 2016.

It is too early for optimism. The global market remains over-supplied by 1.3 million bpd and a few months do not necessarily make a trend. At the same time, with prices now below $40 per barrel, I am encouraged that there is now the potential for progress toward market balance and eventual price recovery.