International oil inventories have swollen at a fast clip in current months, however given the majority of the rise has been within the Asia-Pacific, costs have been in a position to maintain their floor for now, in line with Morgan Stanley.
Whereas complete stockpiles surged by about 235 million barrels within the 5 months to the tip of June, simply 10% of that has been within the OECD, the area that’s “important for value formation,” analysts together with Martijn Rats stated in a July 15 notice, which posed the query “Is the oil market truly tight? Or not?”
International benchmark Brent has gained floor to date this month, after advances in Could and June, regardless of the drag from the US-led commerce battle and a significant unwind of OPEC+ provide curbs. Though there are widespread expectations for a worldwide glut within the coming quarters, crude’s near-term construction — with immediate costs above these additional out — suggests present market tightness.
“What bridges this obvious contradiction is the uneven regional distribution of world stock builds,” the analysts stated. “A lot of the stock builds have taken place in places which have much less affect on costs, while inventories in key pricing facilities have remained unusually tight – the builds have been within the Pacific, however Brent is priced within the Atlantic.”
Morgan Stanley cautioned that when the height summer-demand season ends, a large surplus could be on the horizon once more, though the financial institution nonetheless anticipated that solely a “modest share” would present up in OECD stockpiles. These have been seen rising by not more than 165 million barrels over 12 months, returning holdings to 2017 ranges, when Brent fluctuated round $65 a barrel, the analysts stated.
Brent value forecasts have been retained at $65 a barrel within the fourth quarter, and $60 for every of the 4 quarters in 2026. Futures have been final at $68.96.
Of the stockpile builds tallied in current months, international locations exterior the OECD added about 100 million barrels, with China alone accounting for 48 million barrels of that determine, Morgan Stanley stated. Elsewhere, the amount of so-called oil-on-water additionally elevated, rising by 106 million barrels.
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