RABINO ELIAHU – PÂNICO – 24/08/22

Crude oil prices behave just like any other commodity with wide price swings of shortage and oversupply. The crude oil price cycle can extend over a long period of time depending on the non-stop change in demand for oil as well as oil supply produced by Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil supply companies. Oil price history shows that the petroleum industry especially in the United States has been heavily regulated in terms of production and price controls throughout the duration of the 20th century.

Current oil price has increased almost 70% this year for three main reasons: there have been few new discoveries of oil in recent years; there is a greater demand for oil especially from China, who is now the worlds largest importer, following the United States; and there is uncertainty over oil supplies because of war and terrorism like the report on the arrest of more than 170 people suspected of plotting to attack of Saudi Arabian oil fields, dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, and militant attacks and domestic disputes on Nigeria and Iraq.