← Back to Blog

Oil Market Snapshot December 2023


  • Red Sea shipping disruption due to escalating Houthi attacks leads to Brent prices surging above $80/bbl, with potential for further increases.
  • Future market volatility expected amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas escalation, and China’s economic challenges impacting oil demand.
  • OPEC announces an additional 2.2 mb/d cuts for 1Q24; markets respond negatively, viewing the agreement as insufficient.
  • Revised global oil demand lowered to 2.2 mb/d for this year, primarily due to China’s economic challenges; 2024 forecast remains at 1.53 mb/d.
  • Anticipated 1.50 mb/d global production growth in 2023, driven by non-OPEC, with US LTO exceeding expectations; US crude production hits a record 13.24 mb/d in September.
  • 2024 projection: 1.34 mb/d growth with additional OPEC cuts, resulting in a small supply surplus.
  • COP28 agreement criticised for lacking a fossil fuel phase-out plan.

by Fay Chen // 20 December, 2023

←   Back to Blog