2020 Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war
Template:AFC submission/created[[Category:Template:AfC date category|2020 Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war]]
Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war[edit | edit source]
On 8 March 2020, Saudi Arabia initiated a price war with Russia, triggering a major fall in the price of oil, with US oil prices crashing 34%, crude oil crashing 26%, and brent oil falling by 24%.[1] The price war was triggered by a breakup in dialogue between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia over proposed oil production cuts in the midst of the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak. Oil prices had already fallen 30% since the start of the year due to a drop in demand.[2] The fall in prices was one of the causes of the global stock market crash on 9 March 2020, colloquially known as Black Monday.
Background[edit | edit source]
As a result of the 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak, factory output and transportation demand fell, bringing overall demand for oil down as well, and causing oil prices to fall. On 15 February 2020, the International Energy Agency announced that demand growth would fall to the lowest rate since 2011, with growth falling by 325,000 barrels per day to 825,000 barrels per day, and a contraction in consumption by 435,000 barrels per day.[3] Although demand for oil was falling globally, a drop in demand in China's markets, the largest since 2008, triggered an OPEC summit in Vienna on 5 March 2020. At the summit, it was agreed to cut oil production by 1.5 million barrels per day through the second quarter of the year, with the group expected to review the policy on 9 June during their next meeting.[4] On Friday 6 March 2020, Russia rejected the proposal, with oil prices falling 10% after the announcement.[5]
On 8 March 2020, Saudi Arabia announced unexpected price discounts of $6 to $8 per barrel to customers in Europe, Asia, and the United States. The announcement triggered a free fall in oil prices that day, with brent crude falling by 30%, the largest drop since the Gulf War.
Effect on stock markets[edit | edit source]
On Monday, 9 March 2020, stock markets globally experienced major point drops due to a combination of panic over the 2019-20 coroanvirus outbreak and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. The Dow Jones fell over 7%, or 2,000 points, the largest point drop in its history.[6] Other stock markets were similarly affected, with the S&P 500 contracting by 7.6% and the NASDAQ Composite contracting by 7.2%. The drops triggered circuit breakers designed to prevent stock market crashes, leading to 15-minute pauses in trading.[7]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Business, Matt Egan, CNN. "Oil crashes by most since 1991 as Saudi Arabia launches price war". https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/08/investing/oil-prices-crash-opec-russia-saudi-arabia/index.html.
- ↑ "Oil Prices, Stocks Plunge After Saudi Arabia Stuns World With Massive Discounts" (in en). https://www.npr.org/2020/03/08/813439501/saudi-arabia-stuns-world-with-massive-discount-in-oil-sold-to-asia-europe-and-u-.
- ↑ "IEA: Oil Demand To Fall For First Time In A Decade" (in en). https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/IEA-Oil-Demand-To-Fall-For-First-Time-In-A-Decade.html.
- ↑ Ellyatt, Sam Meredith,Holly (2020-03-05). "Oil drops as OPEC agrees on massive oil supply cut to offset virus impact; awaits Russia's approval" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/05/opec-meets-to-decide-whether-to-cut-output-as-coronavirus-hits-demand.html.
- ↑ "Oil plunges 10% after Opec deal collapses" (in en-GB). BBC News. 2020-03-06. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51774622.
- ↑ "Dow closes with decline of 2,000 points, almost ending 11-year bull market" (in en). https://www.nbcnews.com/business/markets/dow-set-open-decline-1-300-points-oil-war-adds-n1152941.
- ↑ Bloom, Jeff Cox,Michael (2020-03-09). "The market triggered a 'circuit breaker' that kept stocks from falling through the floor. Here's what you need to know" (in en). https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/09/sp-500-futures-are-frozen-after-tanking-5percent-heres-what-happens-when-circuit-breakers-kick-in.html.
