An oil refinery in Lanzhou. China is expected to drive oil demand growth this year. Reuters
An oil refinery in Lanzhou. China is expected to drive oil demand growth this year. Reuters
An oil refinery in Lanzhou. China is expected to drive oil demand growth this year. Reuters
An oil refinery in Lanzhou. China is expected to drive oil demand growth this year. Reuters

IEA raises 2023 global oil demand estimates on China’s reopening


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The International Energy Agency has raised its 2023 global oil demand estimates as top crude importer China reopens its economy after about three years of adhering to a strict zero-Covid policy.

Global oil demand will rise by 2 million barrels per day to 101.9 million bpd this year, said the agency, which had forecast a growth of 1.9 million bpd last month.

“Nearly a year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global oil markets are trading in relative calm,” the Paris-based agency said in its monthly oil market report on Wednesday.

“World oil supply looks set to exceed demand through the first half of 2023, but the balance could quickly shift to deficit as demand recovers and some Russian output is shut in.”

China, which is expected to consume 900,000 bpd of crude this year, “dominates” the growth outlook, with the reopening of its borders boosting air traffic, the agency said.

Jet fuel demand will increase by 1.1 million bpd to 7.2 million bpd, or about 90 per cent of 2019 levels, according to the agency's estimates.

Meanwhile, global crude output is expected to rise by 1.2 million bpd this year, driven by non-Opec+ countries, said the agency, which expects Russian supply to contract this year on western sanctions.

Russia, the world’s second-largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia, said it would cut oil production by 500,000 bpd, or about 5 per cent of its crude output, in March after the West imposed price caps on its crude and refined oil products.

On February 5, the G7 and the EU agreed to set the price cap at $100 a barrel for products that trade at a premium to crude, such as diesel, and $45 a barrel for products that trade at a discount, such as naphtha and fuel oil.

Russian oil exports in January rose by 300,000 bpd from a month ago to 8.2 million bpd, the agency said.

The country’s export revenue stood at $13 billion, slightly higher than in December, but down 36 per cent from the same period a year ago, the agency said.

“The impact on Russia’s product exports following the EU embargo and price cap … will be a key factor when it comes to meeting that demand growth,” said the agency.

“So will Beijing’s stance on domestic refinery activity and product exports amid its reopening.”

The report comes a day after Opec raised its 2023 oil demand forecast by 100,000 bpd.

The oil producers' group now expects global oil demand to grow by 2.3 million bpd this year, which is higher than its previous estimate of 2.2 million bpd.

Opec also revised its global economic growth forecast for this year to 2.6 per cent on “better-than-anticipated” economic performance in key countries in the second half of 2022.

It previously estimated growth of 2.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund recently raised its global economic growth estimate for this year to 2.9 per cent, from a previous forecast of 2.7 per cent.

Global economic growth may be reaching a “turning point”, supported by falling inflation and China’s reopening, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Sunday.

“While this is encouraging, the balance of risks remains tilted to the downside. China’s recovery could stall [and] inflation could remain higher than expected,” she said.

Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world’s oil, was trading 1.2 per cent lower at $84.55 a barrel at 2.02pm UAE time on Wednesday.

Dolittle

Director: Stephen Gaghan

Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen

One-and-a-half out of five stars

About Krews

Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

Number of employees: 10

Sector: Technology/Social media 

Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support

 

What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
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  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

The team

Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory 
Videographer: Jear Valasquez 
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory 
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat 
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova 
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi 

 
Updated: February 15, 2023, 11:42 AM`