Emerging economies will be the main force in the global oil market next year, driving demand to a record high level, International Energy Agency (IEA) data showed today.
Raising its demand forecast this year because of unseasonally cold weather, the IEA also signalled that in 2014 emerging economies will drive demand to a record 92
million barrels per day.
The agency said improving prospects for global economic growth would pull demand, despite increasing efficiency in energy use in advanced countries. But the overall tone of the IEA monthly report suggested that the oil market is heading into a sea of uncertainty, partly because oil production in the United States is ?set to grow strongly?.
Supply from other countries outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), notably Brazil, Kazakhstan and South Sudan, would also rise, the agency forecast.
?Emerging markets and developing economies are forecast to lead demand growth in 2014,? the IEA said. This would more than offset continued shrinkage of
demand in the 34 countries in the OECD area, with China forecast to remain ?the main engine of demand growth in 2014?.
