empty
03.01.2023 11:03 AM
Lower oil prices for 2023

2022 was a year of increased volatility and market division for oil to those who buy from Russia and those who refuse it. Brent ended it at +4%, a far cry from the triple-digit gains at the beginning of the armed conflict in Ukraine. The trading range for the North Sea grades was $64–$139 per barrel, the widest since the 2008 global economic crisis. What's in store for oil in 2023?

Despite its rally at the turn of the year, Reuters experts are pessimistic, at least for the first few months of 2023. They lowered the median estimate of the average Brent price by 4.6%, from $93.65 in November to $89.37 per barrel in December. In 2022, the figure was $99. Such forecasts suggest that the downward trend in the North Sea variety is likely to continue. And there are justifications for this.

Dynamics of forecasts for Brent

This image is no longer relevant

The main reasons for the further fall in oil prices are the aggressive tightening of monetary policy, which will lead to a recession, and the difficulty of opening China's economy in conditions of increased infection and mortality. According to the head of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, the simultaneous slowdown of three whales, the United States, the eurozone, and China, indicates that a third of the world economy will face a recession in 2023. In the language of fundamental analysis, this means lower oil demand and lower prices.

The fact that China is having a hard time fighting COVID-19 is evidenced by the slowdown in December manufacturing activity from Caixin from 49.4 to 49. The index has been below the critical mark of 50, which signals a contraction in GDP for five consecutive months.

As for potential production cuts that could support Brent, Reuters experts do not expect any breakthrough in this area in the new year. In their opinion, the Western sanctions will have a limited impact on the Russian oil supplies, as the process of reorientation of its flows from the West to the East is under way, and the price ceiling of $60 per barrel is too high to speak about a sharp reduction of the oil production in Russia. Thus, the main grade Urals currently trades at $42, including due to high transportation costs.

Dynamics of offshore flows of Russian oil

This image is no longer relevant

In addition, if Russian oil production drops sharply, OPEC may increase it to limit the rise in prices.

This image is no longer relevant

However, in the second half of 2023 the situation might change dramatically. The recovery of the Chinese economy will inflate the oil demand. As, however, the termination of the cycle of tightening monetary policy with a potential "dovish" reversal of the Fed.

Technically, the implementation of the 1-2-3 pattern takes place on the Brent daily chart. We keep the long positions formed due to this, but as we approach the previously announced targets of $86.4, $87, and $89.2 per barrel, we fix profits and look for signals for a reversal.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

GBP/JPY. Analysis and Forecast

Following the release of UK consumer inflation data, which came in above expectations, the GBP/JPY pair slightly pared back its intraday losses. However, it failed to attract significant buying interest

Irina Yanina 11:25 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Will Global Central Banks Continue to Cut Interest Rates? (Bitcoin May Resume Growth and USD/JPY May Decline)

Among the economically developed nations—those that belong to the Western wing of the global economy—there is an important rule: a target of 2% inflation, specifically consumer inflation. Achieving this target

Pati Gani 09:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

Market: Do or Die!

Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent. The S&P 500 rally from the April lows—adding $8.6 trillion in market cap—often appeared irrational. Investors ignored the Federal Reserve's

Marek Petkovich 08:23 2025-05-21 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – May 21: The Rollercoaster Continues

On Tuesday, the GBP/USD currency pair declined, unlike on Monday. While the euro's movement required searching for reasons behind the dollar's drop, the technical picture for the pound is straightforward

Paolo Greco 07:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – May 21: The Theater of Chaos and Absurdity Continues

The EUR/USD currency pair moved sluggishly on Tuesday, which was not surprising given the absence of news. Monday didn't bring much in the way of important news either

Paolo Greco 07:46 2025-05-21 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on May 21? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

Very few macroeconomic events are scheduled for Wednesday. However, the UK inflation report holds significant importance for the market, or rather, used to . As we can see, traders continue

Paolo Greco 06:45 2025-05-21 UTC+2

The Fed Maintains a Wait-and-See Approach

The market expects active measures from the U.S. central bank, while Donald Trump keeps demanding that Jerome Powell cut interest rates. It's worth noting that Powell cannot make such decisions

Chin Zhao 00:41 2025-05-21 UTC+2

The Dollar Regains Its Spirit

As the CFTC report showed, investors are still not very impressed that the US and China have managed to reduce trade tensions and take a pause for negotiations

Kuvat Raharjo 00:26 2025-05-21 UTC+2

EUR/USD: Weak Dollar Meets Indecisive Euro

The EUR/USD pair has consolidated above the 1.1200 level, reflecting the overall weakening of the U.S. dollar. The "bearish attack" we witnessed last week ended in failure. EUR/USD sellers were

Irina Manzenko 19:35 2025-05-20 UTC+2

Euro Exhausts Bullish Momentum

Inflation in the eurozone remained unchanged in April compared to March, fully in line with forecasts—2.2% year-over-year for the headline index, and 2.7% year-over-year for the core index. This inflation

Kuvat Raharjo 19:16 2025-05-20 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.