Holy oil prices China demand. As we ring in the New Year, let’s also take stock of where we are at with the oil markets. 2014 proved to be a momentous one for the oil markets. Thereby having seen prices cut in half in just six months.

Now the big question is what oil prices will do in 2015. Oil prices are unsustainably low right now. For many high-cost oil producers and oil-producing regions are currently operating in the red. That may work in the short-term. However, over the medium and long-term no. Because then companies will be forced out of the market. That could be precipitating a price rise.

Therefore, the big question is when they will rise. In addition, by how much.

Oil Prices China Demand

So, what does that mean for oil prices in 2015? It is anybody’s guess, but here are the top five variables that will determine the trajectory of oil prices over the next 12 months, in no particular order.

1. China’s Economy

So, China is the second largest consumer of oil in the world. It has surpassed the United States as the largest importer of liquid fuels. That’s in late 2013. More important for oil prices is how much China’s consumption will increase in the coming years.

According to the EIA, China is expected burn through 3 million more barrels per day. That’s in 2020 compared to 2012. That’s accounting for about one-quarter of global demand growth over that timeframe. Although there is much uncertainty, China just wrapped up a disappointing fourth quarter. I mean also capping off its slowest annual growth in over a quarter century. It is not at all obvious that China will be able to halt its sliding growth rate. However, the trajectory of China’s economy will significantly impact oil prices in 2015.

Again: Oil Prices, China, Demand.

2. American shale

By the end of 2014, the U.S. was producing more than 9 million barrels of oil per day, an 80 percent increase from 2007. Therefore, that output went a long way to creating a glut of oil, which helped send oil prices to the dumps in 2014.

Having collectively shot themselves in the foot. For the big question is how affected U.S. drillers will be by sub-$60 WTI. Rig counts continue to fall. Then spending is being slashed. However, output has so far been stable. Whether the industry can maintain output given today’s prices or production begins to fall will have an enormous impact on international supplies, and as a result, prices.

3. Elasticity of Demand

Ugh, we know the cure for low prices is low prices. That cliché can be applied to both the supply and demand side of the equation. Will oil selling at fire sale prices spur renewed demand? In some countries where oil is more regulated. So low prices may not trickle down to the retail level. Countries like Indonesia are scrapping subsidies, which will be a boon to state coffers. Yet, it will diminish the benefits to consumers.

Although, in the U.S., gasoline prices are now below $2.40 per gallon. It’s more than 35 percent down from mid-2014. That has led to an uptick in gasoline consumption. In the waning days of 2014, the U.S. consumed gasoline at the highest daily rate since 2007. Low prices could spark higher demand. All which in turn could send oil prices back up.

4. OPEC’s Next Move

OPEC deserves a lot of credit (or blame) for the remarkable downturn in oil prices last year. While many pundits have declared OPEC irrelevant after their decision to leave output unchanged. For the mere fact that oil prices crashed after the cartel’s November meeting demonstrates just how influential they are over price swings. Now OPEC – or, more accurately, Saudi Arabia – has stood firm. Especially in its insistence not to cut production quotas. Whether that remains true through 2015 is up in the air.

5. Geopolitical flashpoints

In the not too distant past, a small supply disruption would send oil prices skyward.. Early 2014, for example, violence in Libya blocked oil exports. Thereby contributing to a rise in oil prices. Then in Iraq, ISIS overran parts of the country and oil prices shot up on fears of supply outages. But since then, geopolitical flashpoints have had much less of an effect on the price of crude.

During the last few weeks of 2014, violence flared up again in Libya. But after a brief increase in prices, the markets shrugged off the event. Nevertheless, history has demonstrated time and again that geopolitical crises are some of the most powerful short-term movers of oil prices.

Source: http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Top-Five-Factors-Affecting-Oil-Prices-In-2015.html

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com