Pandemic pushes back global oil demand to 2013 levels
- September 23, 2020
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Worldwide demand for oil has scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Global demand currently stands at around 91.7 barrels per day (bpd) — the same estimate back in 2013 — with demand for petroleum products possibly dropping by 8.4 million bpd by year’s end compare
d to 2019. Meanwhile, demand is projected to grow by 5.5 million bpd in 2021.
The IEA warned of a “treacherous” path ahead for the oil industry with shrinking demand resulting from resurgences of COVID-19 cases, as well as continued quarantines in different parts of the world.
In the Philippines, oil demand bottomed stood at 1.25 million liters last April, down 42% against the record January level of 2.15 million liters, based on data from the Department of Energy.
Demand recovered in May and June to 1.72 million a
nd 1.70 million liters, respectively, with the lifting of lockdowns. However, these are still lower than pre-pandemic levels.