Oil cartel OPEC has lowered its forecast for global oil demand growth for the fifth time in a row. Last week, OPEC+, which also includes allies such as Russia and Kazakhstan, again postponed plans for a production increase to support prices.
In its monthly report, OPEC now expects oil demand to grow by 1.6 million barrels (of 159 liters) per day this year. That is 210,000 barrels less than was assumed last month. Since July, the Vienna-based organization has already lowered those growth estimates by more than a quarter.
The forecasts for oil demand growth have also been revised downwards for next year. This weaker demand is mainly the result of the ailing Chinese economy. China is the world’s largest oil importer.
OPEC+ countries were supposed to gradually increase daily production in early January, but that has been postponed for three months. From April 2025 to September 2026, they will gradually pump more oil, lifting an earlier production cut of 2.2 million barrels per day.