IEA lowers 2026 oil glut forecast for first time since May

LONDON: The International Energy Agency trimmed its forecast of next year’s global oil supply glut for the first time since May on Thursday, flagging higher demand prospects due to a stronger world economy and lower supply from nations under sanctions.

Oil prices have been under pressure for months due to predictions from the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, and other analysts of a looming glut.

Global oil supply will exceed demand by 3.84 million barrels per day, according to figures from the Paris-based IEA’s latest monthly oil market report, down from a 4.09 million bpd surplus estimated in November.

A surplus of almost 4 million bpd is still equal to almost 4 percent of world demand and is at the higher end of analysts’ predictions.

Oil was trading lower on Thursday, with Brent crude - down over 15 percent in 2025 - trading below $62 a barrel.

Supply rose sharply this year boosted by output hikes from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners - a group known as OPEC+ - as well as growth in the United States and other producers. OPEC+ has now paused output increases for the first quarter of 2026.

HIGHER DEMAND AS TARIFF JITTERS SUBSIDE

The IEA revised up its global oil demand growth forecasts for this year and next due to an improving macroeconomic outlook and with “anxiety about tariffs having largely subsided”.

World oil demand is expected to rise in 2026 by 860,000 bpd, up 90,000 bpd from last month’s outlook, the IEA said. It raised its 2025 forecast by 40,000 bpd to 830,000 bpd.

“Falling oil prices and the lower US dollar, both currently near four-year lows, act as a further tailwind for oil demand next year,” the IEA said, adding that demand growth in 2025 has come almost entirely from non-OECD countries, which are more reliant on macroeconomic conditions.

A spate of breakthroughs with US trade deals had helped put economic sentiment back on track after tariff-related tensions hit consumption earlier this year, the IEA said.