adsGlobal oil markets are facing what analysts describe as the worst supply disruption in history, with rapidly falling inventories and worsening geopolitical tensions pushing crude prices higher and raising fears of renewed inflationary pressures across economies already struggling with weak growth.
Barclays on Friday warned that risks to oil prices are now “firmly skewed higher” despite maintaining its forecast for Brent crude to average $100 per barrel in 2026, as the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz continues to drain global stockpiles.
The investment bank said global inventory trends are signalling a supply deficit of between six million and eight million barrels per day (bpd), with US inventories nearing their lowest levels since 2020.
“Inventory trends are signalling a 6-8 million bpd deficit with the U.S. inventories within reach of the lowest levels since 2020,” Barclays analysts said in a market note.
According to the bank, even if tanker traffic through Hormuz resumes immediately, inventories would still remain roughly 20 million barrels below already tight historical levels.adsads
