The coming gasoline glut
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:13 pm
Gas prices rising but glut coming
By Mark Thompson
LONDON (CNNMoney) — While violence in Iraq may squeeze drivers' wallets this summer, the U.S. is headed for a gas glut over the next few years as demand slows.
Despite rising slightly last year, U.S. gas demand will decline by about 1% a year for the rest of the decade, according to the International Energy Agency.
"Tightening fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, and changing consumer preferences look set to send U.S. gasoline demand back on the declining course on which it embarked in 2007," the Paris-based agency said in its latest forecast published Tuesday.
U.S. demand for gas alone accounts for about 10% of world oil consumption, and the decline will coincide with more ample supply, according to the IEA.
The U.S. energy boom is boosting output of oil that is rich in gasoline at a time when refineries are under pressure to produce more diesel and jet fuel amid an increase in industrial activity and air travel.
But the refineries still have to sell the gas produced from processing each barrel, and will be looking for markets to soak up that surplus.
The IEA estimates that North America could swing from being a small net importer of gas to exporting 1.3 million barrels per day in 2019.
Globally, the growth in world oil demand is expected to peak in 2015 and 2016, before slowing toward the end of the decade, IEA said.
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By Mark Thompson
LONDON (CNNMoney) — While violence in Iraq may squeeze drivers' wallets this summer, the U.S. is headed for a gas glut over the next few years as demand slows.
Despite rising slightly last year, U.S. gas demand will decline by about 1% a year for the rest of the decade, according to the International Energy Agency.
"Tightening fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, and changing consumer preferences look set to send U.S. gasoline demand back on the declining course on which it embarked in 2007," the Paris-based agency said in its latest forecast published Tuesday.
U.S. demand for gas alone accounts for about 10% of world oil consumption, and the decline will coincide with more ample supply, according to the IEA.
The U.S. energy boom is boosting output of oil that is rich in gasoline at a time when refineries are under pressure to produce more diesel and jet fuel amid an increase in industrial activity and air travel.
But the refineries still have to sell the gas produced from processing each barrel, and will be looking for markets to soak up that surplus.
The IEA estimates that North America could swing from being a small net importer of gas to exporting 1.3 million barrels per day in 2019.
Globally, the growth in world oil demand is expected to peak in 2015 and 2016, before slowing toward the end of the decade, IEA said.
MORE