Oil will surge 21% this year even as spiking COVID-19 infections hamper near-term demand, Goldman Sachs says

• Oil could surge 21% this year, even as near-term demand is hurt by rising COVID-19 infections, Goldman Sachs said in a note on Tuesday.
• Oil extended its two-day surge to as much as 7% on Wednesday, with the rally sparked by Saudi Arabia's $4 by 1 million barrels per day on Tuesday.
• The most rational explanation to Saudi Arabia's oil production cut is "a large expected slowdown in global oil demand" driven in part by rising COVID-19 infections.
• $4

$4 could surge to $65 per barrel by the end of 2021, even as near-term demand is set to be weak due to rising COVID-19 infections, Goldman Sachs said in a note on Tuesday. A move to $65 would represent potential upside of 21% as of Tuesday's close.

Brent traded up as much as 1% in Wednesday trades, extending its two-day surge to as much as 7%. The initial rally was sparked by $4 by 1 million barrels per day throughout February and March.

The oil production cut was a surprise to the markets because global oil demand beat expectations in December thanks to limited lockdown measures and resilient jet demand, according to Goldman.

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Oil prices will likely be supported in the coming weeks thanks to the oil production cut and "the prospect for a tight market in 2Q21," but Saudi Arabia's decision "reflects signs of weakening demand as lockdowns return," Goldman said in the note.

"A large expected slowdown in global oil demand [is] the most rational explanation for Saudi's cut," Goldman said, adding that Saudi undermined its efforts since April to have OPEC+ members implement similar cuts.

Russia and Kazakhstan will increased their oil output by a combined 75,000 barrels per day in February and March.

In fact, Goldman's high-frequency oil demand data suggests that recent aggressive lockdowns in countries like the UK have already weighed on oil demand, according to the note.

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