Oil prices balance between increasing demand and recession fears

Oil prices were volatile last week, with WTI prices dropping below the $106.4 per barrel support level, before climbing back up above $112 per barrel at the end of the week. On Monday, oil prices remained steady, with WTI prices close to the 112.4 level. If the WTI price drops again, support can be found at the $94.5 per barrel level and further down at the $90 per barrel level, while further resistance can be found near $118.3 per barrel. 

US bans on oil and gas imports from Russia support oil prices, with as many as 3 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil removed from the market. In addition, US officials have recently stated that the Biden administration is preparing new sanctions on Russian oil imports that aim to cripple the Russian economy. If implemented, such bans have the potential to drive oil prices further up.

Last week, the EU announced plans for ending its dependency on Russian oil imports within 5 years, boosting oil prices. EU members though have made little headway in deciding on a more immediate ban on Russian oil imports. The EU is hesitant to cut off Russian oil imports abruptly, as most EU members are in favor of gradually weaning off Russian oil imports. EU’s Russian oil sanctions have stalled though, as some EU member states, such as Hungary, oppose the ban and are vetoing the plan. 

Stalling global economic growth and lockdowns in China have reduced oil demand. China is the largest importer of crude oil and Covid lockdowns have dampened oil demand, pushing prices down. As Covid cases are starting to fall in China, however, fears of prolonged lockdown ease, drive oil prices back up. Health authorities in China have signaled that lockdown restrictions in Shanghai will end on June 1st. Recession fears rise though, as the IMF director Kristalina Georgieva warned on Monday that recession is possible, even for major economies.

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Written by:
Myrsini Giannouli

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