Iranian oil output, exports rebound: IEA

Iranian oil output rose in October after seven months of decline due to Western sanctions and its exports rebounded strongly as China and South Korea bought more oil, the West' energy watchdog said on Tuesday. The International Energy Agency, adviser to industrialised nations on energy policy, said the rebound in Iranian output was adding to a bearish picture of growing oil supply while demand remained depressed due to a weak global economy.
The IEA also added that a new round of sanctions against Iran was likely to further cripple its finances although not necessarily further reduce its oil deliveries to markets. "With the bulk of Iranian crude now heading to Asia, however, the main impact of the new EU measures will likely be on the country's financial sector," the IEA said.
The IEA said Iranian oil output rose by around 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 2.7 million bpd in October. Iranian exports jumped to 1.3 million bpd from 1.0 million seen in the two previous months. "China and South Korea appear to account for the lion's share of the increase in Iranian imports," the IEA said in its monthly report. The jump in imports could have brought Iran an additional $900 million last month, according to Reuters calculations based on the price for its oil of $100 a barrel.
The IEA also cited estimates as showing Iranian crude oil held in floating storage nearly halved to 13 million barrels at the end of October from as high as 25-30 million in April as its state tanker company is increasingly using its own fleet to deliver crude to buyers unable to obtain shipping insurance. The rebound in Iranian exports added to a comfortable global supply picture as demand remained depressed, further reducing pressure on Opec to maintain high production levels. "What we can see now is that the market is well supplied," IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said.
Speaking at a conference in London with van der Hoeven after the release of the IEA report, Opec Secretary General Abdullah al-Badri agreed: "There is no shortage anywhere in the world." Global oil supply rose by 800,000 bpd in October month-on-month to 90.9 million bpd due to a rebound in supplies from the Americas and the North Sea. "Compared to a year ago, global oil production stood 2.0 million bpd higher, with 80 percent of the increase coming from Opec crude and natural gas liquids," the IEA report said.