Anonymous ID: b7699c March 30, 2020, 12:34 p.m. No.8625877   ๐Ÿ—„๏ธ.is ๐Ÿ”—kun   >>5885 >>6009 >>6056

Oil drops more than 6% to 18-year low as global demand evaporates

 

U.S. oil dropped to an 18-year low on Monday as demand continues to evaporate, and as Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ nations prepare to ramp up production.

 

With much of the world in lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic rages on, demand for oil has fallen off a cliff. People arenโ€™t travelling and business has slowed, reducing the need for jet fuel and gasoline.

 

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell 6.6%, or $1.42, to settle at $20.09, its lowest level since February 2002. Earlier in the session the contract shed more than 9% to trade at a session low of $19.27. The contract had briefly traded below the key $20 per barrel mark on March 20, although it was in thin trading on a contract that was set to expire.

 

International benchmark Brent crude fell 8.7% to settle at $22.76 per barrel, a price last seen in 2002.

 

The drop-off in demand comes just as the OPEC+ production cuts expire. Beginning April 1 the 14-member cartel and its allies will be able to pump as much oil as they please, and Saudi Arabia is among the nations that has vowed to ramp up its production. Given the hit to both supply and demand, analysts are projecting that despite WTIโ€™s 55% slide this month โ€” its worst on record โ€” there could still be more downside ahead. Oilโ€™s swift and steep decline has caused energy companies to slash capital spending plans. U.S.-based exploration and production companies have been among those hardest hit. As these companies struggle to breakeven with depressed oil prices, some analysts are saying a wave of consolidation and bankruptcies could be ahead.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/oil-falls-to-back-to-18-year-lows-below-20-as-global-demand-evaporates.html

https://www.macrotrends.net/2566/crude-oil-prices-today-live-chart