Short-Term Energy Outlook

WASHINGTON, DC – March 10, 2009 –  The global economic contraction continues to depress energy demand.  

Highlights

 The global economic contraction continues to depress energy demand.  

The annual price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaged $100 per barrel in 2008.  The global economic slowdown is projected to cut these prices by more than half, to average $42 per barrel in 2009 and $53 in 2010–forecasts slightly lower than last month’s Outlook.

Gasoline prices have been slowly increasing over the last 2 months while crude oil prices have stabilized and refiner margins have recovered from their recent near-historic lows.  After averaging $1.69 per gallon in December 2008, the lowest monthly average since February 2004, the retail gasoline price in February rose to $1.92 per gallon.  Retail gasoline prices are projected to average $1.96 per gallon in 2009 and $2.18 per gallon in 2010. 

The U.S. economic downturn is the principal cause for the decline in domestic natural gas consumption, particularly in the industrial sector–where it is projected to fall by 6 percent in 2009–which in turn has led to lower natural gas prices.  The Henry Hub natural gas spot price is projected to decline from an average of $9.13 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) in 2008 to about $4.70 per Mcf in 2009, but then increase in 2010 to an average of almost $5.90 per Mcf.

Global Crude Oil and Liquid Fuels

Overview.  Following the sharp price decline that occurred during the second half of 2008, the global oil market has remained relatively stable since the beginning of the year.  This situation is expected to continue through most of 2009, until economic recovery in the United States and elsewhere leads to a rebound in oil demand growth. 

The future direction of world oil prices in the short-term will largely depend upon the timing and pace of the recovery of the global economy.  Our macroeconomic forecasts are derived from the IHS Global Insight macroeconomic model.  If economic growth in the United States and overseas rebounds sooner than expected, oil demand could experience stronger-than-expected growth and outpace production increases, leading to rising prices.  However, any upward movement in oil prices will be muted by the relatively high levels of commercial inventories in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and surplus production capacity among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC is scheduled to meet March 15 to assess the market situation and determine its future oil production targets.

U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to decline by 2.8 percent in 2009, leading to a reduction in domestic energy consumption for all major fuels.  An economic rebound is projected to begin in 2010, with a 1.9-percent year-over-year growth in U.S. real GDP.

Consumption.  Average annual world oil consumption is projected to decline by almost 1.4 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2009, with consumption in the OECD falling by 1.6 million bbl/d.  This expected decline in global consumption growth is roughly 200,000 bbl/d larger than in last month’s Outlook, reflecting lower expectations of global economic activity in 2009.  World GDP growth (oil-consumption weighted) is assumed to decline by 0.8 percent in 2009 followed by growth of 2.6 percent in 2010, compared with last month’s assumption of a 0.1-percent decline and 3-percent growth. 

EIA’s projection for 2009 global oil consumption is now 3 million bbl/d lower than it was in the September 2008 Outlook.  World oil consumption is expected to rebound in 2010, growing by 900,000 bbl/d, in response to an economic recovery which is projected to begin at the end of 2009.  However, this revised projection for 2010 is 300,000 bbl/d lower than in last month’s forecast due to the projected slower pace of recovery in the global economy.

Non-OPEC Supply.  Non-OPEC supply is expected to remain fairly flat over the next 2 years, following a decline of 300,000 bbl/d in 2008.  This contrasts with an average annual growth of 570,000 bbl/d from 2000 through 2007.  The largest sources of growth over the forecast period are the United States, Brazil, and Azerbaijan, offset by large declines in production in Mexico, the North Sea, and Russia.  Considerable downside risks remain, as additional project delays, declines in drilling activity, and more rapid decline rates than assumed could result from the financial crisis and the current price environment.

OPEC Supply. Press and industry reports indicate that OPEC countries have trimmed production significantly over the past several months.  Estimated OPEC crude oil production fell by 1.1 million bbl/d during the fourth quarter of 2008, reaching 30.6 million bbl/d.  OPEC crude oil production is expected to fall by an additional 2 million bbl/d in the first quarter of 2009 to 28.6 million bbl/d, the lowest level for the first quarter since 2003.  OPEC crude oil production in 2009 is expected to average 28.9 million bbl/d, then rise to 29.8 million bbl/d in 2010.  In addition, EIA expects that OPEC production of non-crude liquids will grow by 410,000 bbl/d in 2009 and by 740,000 bbl/d in 2010.  This is lower than last month’s forecast due to a re-estimation of the impact of falling crude oil production upon the growth of production in associated non-crude liquids.

The combination of lower oil demand, rising natural gas liquids production, and increases in crude oil production capacity over the next 2 years will result in an OPEC surplus production capacity averaging 4 to 5 million bbl/d over the period.  Higher surplus production capacity should mitigate the impacts of actual or perceived supply disruptions and reduce the likelihood of sharp price increases.  There remains a risk, however, that financial constraints and prospects of weak demand could lead OPEC members to further delay expansion programs, reducing future surplus capacity and setting the stage for higher prices once the economic recovery is underway.

Inventories. Revised data indicate that OECD commercial inventories stood at 2.7 billion barrels at the end of 2008, equivalent to 52 days of forward cover, which is above recent end-of-year average levels.  Measured as days of forward cover, OECD commercial inventories are projected to remain in the upper end of the historic range through the end of 2010.

U.S. Crude Oil and Liquid Fuels

Consumption.  Total consumption of liquid fuels in 2008 declined by almost 1.3 million bbl/d, or 6.1 percent, from that of 2007.  The major factors contributing to the fall in consumption were a rapid rise in retail prices to record levels during the first half of 2008 and a deteriorating economy in the second half of the year.  Total liquid fuels consumption for 2009 is projected to fall by a further 420,000 bbl/d, or 2.2 percent, because of continued economic weakness.  The expected economic recovery in 2010 is projected to boost total liquid fuels consumption by 210,000 bbl/d, or 1.1 percent, with all of the major fuels registering increases in consumption.

Production.  Domestic crude oil production in 2009 is projected to increase by about 400,000 bbl/d from 2008 levels to an average of 5.36 million bbl/d.  This would be the first increase in production since 1991.  Output is projected to rise by a further 150,000 bbl/d in 2010.  Contributing to the increases in output are the Gulf of Mexico Thunder Horse platform, which is producing now, and the Tahiti platform, which is expected to come on stream later this year.

Prices.  Under current economic and world crude oil supply assumptions, WTI prices are expected to average $42 per barrel in 2009 and $53 per barrel in
2010.  A stronger economic recovery, lower non-OPEC production because of the current low oil prices and financial market constraints, or more aggressive action to cut production by OPEC countries could lead to a faster and stronger rise in oil prices.

Regular-grade gasoline prices, which averaged $3.26 per gallon in 2008, are projected to average $1.96 per gallon in 2009 and $2.18 per gallon in 2010.  The monthly average price is expected to peak slightly over $2 per gallon this year, although it remains possible that weekly prices could rise significantly higher at some point this spring or summer.  Because of lower motor gasoline consumption, refining margins for gasoline are expected to remain depressed for much of 2009 but are expected to increase slightly in 2010 as consumption begins to recover.

On-highway diesel fuel retail prices are projected to average $2.19 per gallon in 2009 and $2.51 in 2010.  The expected continuing decline in diesel fuel consumption in the United States this year as well as the growing weakness in distillate fuel usage outside the United States are projected to result in a narrowing of refining margins for distillate throughout the forecast period.  Because of the global weakness in industrial output, it is possible that we will see diesel prices fall below gasoline prices this summer.

Natural Gas

Consumption.  Total natural gas consumption is projected to decline by 1.3 percent in 2009 and then increase by 0.4 percent in 2010.   The outlook for continued economic weakness in 2009 is expected to take its greatest toll on industrial sector natural gas consumption, which is expected to decline by about 6 percent this year, more than offsetting the small projected increases in other end-use sectors.  Lower natural gas delivered prices compared with coal in some markets, particularly in the Southeast, are expected to cause some electric power generators to switch some generation from coal to natural gas.  Natural gas consumption by the electric power sector is projected to grow by 0.4 percent in 2009.

 The pace and extent of economic recovery in 2010 are the primary factors influencing the natural gas consumption forecast next year, particularly for industrial users.  Based on the current economic assumptions for 2010, slight growth in the industrial sector and 2-percent growth in the electric power sector are balanced by declines in the residential and commercial sectors because of projected milder winter temperatures.

Production and Imports.  Total U.S. marketed natural gas production is expected to remain flat in 2009 and then fall by 0.8 percent in 2010.  Baker-Hughes reports 916 natural gas rigs working in the United States as of March 6, 2009, a decline of 43 percent from August 2008.  Consequently, the robust growth in natural gas production in the Lower-48 region (excluding the Gulf of Mexico) over the last few years is expected to end as production reaches about 53 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in early 2009, then declines  during the second half of 2009.  The extent of the production decline later this year is highly uncertain and subject to fluctuations in demand and prices over the period.  Rig activity is expected to recover in 2010 as the economy improves and prices increase.  However, annual average production is still projected to be lower next year because of the decline in new wells drilled this year.

 U.S. imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are expected to increase slightly in 2009 to 380 Bcf.  New LNG supply capacity in Qatar, Indonesia, and Yemen could supply a significantly greater volume of LNG imports this year.  However, delays to this new supply capacity as well as uncertainty about the weakness of natural gas demand in other LNG-consuming countries contribute to doubts about much higher LNG imports might be this year.  LNG imports in 2010 are projected to be about 460 billion cubic feet (Bcf) as global supply projects ramp up.  Pipeline imports are expected to decline by 9.4 percent in 2009 as Canadian drilling activity subsides, fields age, and a growing portion of available supply is dedicated to oil sands development. 

Inventories. On February 27, 2009, working natural gas in storage was 1,793 Bcf.  Current inventories are now 218 Bcf above the 5-year average (2003–2007) and 270 Bcf above the level during the corresponding week last year.  Storage inventories at the end of March 2009 are expected at about 1.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf), roughly 200 Bcf above the previous 5-year average for that time.  

Prices.  The Henry Hub spot price averaged $4.65 per Mcf in February, $0.75 per Mcf below the average spot price in January.  Prices continue to reflect demand reductions brought about by the current economic downturn.  As the year progresses, it is expected that average spot prices will remain near $4 per Mcf.  If prices fall further than currently forecast, natural gas will become increasingly competitive with coal for base load power generation in some regions.  On the supply side, the current drilling pullback could contribute to higher-than-expected prices if the economy begins to recover earlier than expected and production is slow to react.  The Henry Hub spot price is expected to average $4.67 per Mcf in 2009 and $5.87 per Mcf in 2010.

Electricity

 Consumption.  An expected decline of 6.4 percent in industrial electricity sales during 2009 leads to a projected decline in total electricity consumption of 1.7 percent this year.  Total electricity consumption is expected to grow by 1.2 percent in 2010 as a slowly improving economic climate contributes to a recovery in the sales of electricity.

 Prices.  Despite the recent drop in generation fuel costs, some electric utilities have proposed slight rate increases in response to higher costs of securing credit for purchases of fuel and wholesale power, while other retail electricity distributors, especially in the West South Central region, have been able to pass the declining fuel costs on to customers through lower rates.  Residential electricity prices are projected to rise at annual rates of about 1.1 percent in 2009 and 1.8 percent in 2010.

 Generation.  Below-average snowpack in the Pacific region is expected to contribute to a 4.3-percent decline in U.S. hydropower generation in the electric power sector during 2009.  Some of the drop in hydropower and coal-fired generation is expected to be picked up by natural-gas-fired generation, which is expected to increase by 1.2 percent in 2009.

 Coal

 Consumption.  The projected decline in electricity consumption and projected increases from some other generation sources is expected to lead to a 1.7-percent decline in coal consumption for electricity generation.  An expected increase in electricity consumption of 1.2 percent in 2010 will lead to a 0.4-percent increase in coal consumption for electricity generation. 

 Production.  A significant increase in coal exports in 2008 contributed to a 2.1-percent increase in coal production.  Production is expected to fall by 4.9 percent in 2009 as lower total domestic coal consumption is combined with declines in exports and an increase in imports.  Production is projected to increase by 1.8 percent in 2010 as domestic consumption and exports increase with an improving economy.  

 Exports.  Reductions in global coal demand, coupled with the return to normal supply conditions in other major coal-producing and exporting countries, are expected to reduce U.S. coal exports by about 10 million short tons, an 11.8-percent decrease, in 2009.  The improving global economy is expected to spur global coal demand in 2010, leading to a projected 12-percent increase in exports.

 Price
s.  The average delivered coal price to the electric power sector is estimated to have increased by about 17 percent in 2008.  Declines in electricity demand and lower transportation costs should result in average delivered coal prices falling by 1 percent in 2009 and remaining flat in 2010.  Delivered coal prices tend to move more slowly than spot prices because of the nature of existing long-term coal supply contracts.

 

To see details of this forecast update, go to the following World Wide Web site on the Internet:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html