Back to blog

Main Driving Forces Behind Global Oil Demand in 2024

According to the prognosis by Wood Mackenzie, a global energy research company, oil demand should grow by 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) during 2024. However, forecasts differ depending on factors such as fossil fuel reduction agreements, decisions of the biggest oil suppliers about oil outputs as well as geopolitical tensions. Middle east conflict in the last couple months have driven oil prices upwards but they somewhat stabilized amid weaker global demand and full inventories especially in the US.

Main Driving Forces Behind Global Oil Demand in 2024

Wood Mackenzie projects the Asia Pacific (APAC) region to be the primary driver of oil demand, accounting for over 63% of the total increase. China would account to 496,000 bpd whilst India to 161,000 bpd increase, which makes them significant contributors to the growth. APAC, excluding these 2 countries, is expected to account for 542,000 bpd of increased demand. In contrast, Europe's demand is forecasted to decline by 44,000 bpd due to weak economic growth. Looking ahead to 2025, Wood Mackenzie anticipates a lower oil demand growth of 1.4 million bpd, with APAC again being the major driver.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicted that India will surpass China as the largest driver of global oil demand growth until 2030. India is expected to contribute nearly 1.2 million bpd to global demand growth during this period, representing over one-third of the projected global increase of 3.2 million bpd. By 2030, India's oil demand is forecasted to reach 6.6 million bpd, up from 5.5 million bpd in 2023. Diesel fuel will be the primary driver of India's oil consumption, accounting for almost half of the nation's demand rise and over one-sixth of total global oil demand growth through 2030. Jet fuel demand is also expected to increase significantly, albeit from a lower base compared to other countries.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) has pledged to reduce oil production this year but for now it seems that the only ones standing by this decision are Russia and Saudi Arabia since according to Reuters data, OPEC increased its production by 90,000 bpd last month compared to January, which does not correspond with the group’s statement on November 30 last year to reduce production in the first quarter of 2024. The bloc’s estimates of demand growth this year are 2.25 million bpd which is far more than estimate of International Energy Agency’s, which stands at 1.22 million bpd. Recently, Reuters agency was informed by its sources that OPEC is considering further cuts.

Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported US crude oil inventories rose 4th consecutive week. Refinery maintenance and outages, including unplanned outages following a winter storm in January and planned turnarounds, have kept refining activity at its lowest levels since late 2022. The outage at the Whiting refinery in Indiana, the Midwest's largest refinery, which started at the beginning of February, contributed to the supply builds.

War between Israel and Hamas has spilled into other regions of Middle east and Iran backed Houthis group in Yemen started attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea causing major disruptions on the traffic passing through Suez Canal. This forced some big oil companies like BP to divert their tankers to alternative routes. Hope of cease fire in Israel and the coalition of countries led by the US placing patrols in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden drove oil prices down. However, conflict continues and there is a fear of further escalation, which prompted prices to rise again settling near $80 a barrel.

Snímek obrazovky 2024-03-05 v 9.44.15

source: Investing.com

Global tensions, economic growth in the world’s manufacturing powerhouses, as well as transition from fossil fuels by large economies like Europe all contribute to the dynamics of oil markets. The next few years, the main driving forces of the global oild demand will be countries like China and India according to the analysts.

Sources:

https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/apac-markets-driving-global-oil-demand/

https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/opec-oil-output-rises-by-90000-bpd-in-february-survey-finds-3320414

https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/global-oil-demand-to-grow-by-19-million-bpd-in-2024-says-wood-mac-3320365

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/23/more-tankers-divert-from-red-sea-and-its-another-boost-for-us-oil.html

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-crude-stockpiles-rise-gasoline-distillate-draw-down-eia-2024-02-22/

https://www.investing.com/news/economic-indicators/chinese-manufacturing-activity-grows-more-than-expected-in-feb-caixin-pmi-3320905

Read more

Micron Continues Last Year’s Trend: What Is Driving the Growth of This Giant?

Micron Continues Last Year’s Trend: What Is Driving the Growth of This Giant?

Shares of Micron Technology have gained approximately 27% since the beginning of the year*. This sharp rise can be defined as a direct reaction to signals from the broader semiconductor ecosystem, particularly following strong quarterly results from TSMC, which confirmed that investments in AI infrastructure are far from over. As one of the few key manufacturers of memory and storage solutions, Micron stands at the very center of the technological transformation. But will this growth continue into 2026?
European Defense Strategy as a Renewed Investment Pillar

European Defense Strategy as a Renewed Investment Pillar

Defense spending in the European Union has definitively shifted in recent years from the margins of political and investment interest to the center of attention. A combination of persistent geopolitical threats, the armed conflict in Ukraine, growing doubts about the long-term security commitments of the United States toward NATO, and a historical investment deficit is creating an environment in which Europe has no alternative but to significantly strengthen its own defense capabilities. Which companies are likely to benefit the most?
SpaceX Heads for the Stock Market in 2026: Potentially the Largest IPO in Market History

SpaceX Heads for the Stock Market in 2026: Potentially the Largest IPO in Market History

After years of speculation, SpaceX’s stock market debut is beginning to look like a reality. Elon Musk, the company’s founder and current CEO, confirmed that reports about a planned IPO are true, with the market already factoring in a potential valuation of up to USD 1.5 trillion. If these estimates materialize, SpaceX would surpass Saudi Aramco’s 2019 IPO record and go down in history as the largest public offering ever. [1]
Micron and the RAM crisis at the end of 2025: How AI is turning memory into a key component

Micron and the RAM crisis at the end of 2025: How AI is turning memory into a key component

The memory market at the end of 2025 faces an enormous hardware challenge, as AI infrastructure creates demand that spreads through the entire chain. As a result, component costs in the under-$200 phone segment have risen by 20 to 30% since the beginning of 2025. Experts warn that smartphone prices may rise by tens of percent. Micron has already indicated that the market tension is expected to persist in 2026 as well, which is exactly why memory prices and availability are being addressed worldwide.