For clues on accelerating oil demand, look to the seas and skies.
The strength of oil consumption took analysts by surprise last year, and played a big role in crude’s recovery to a three-year high in January. Demand this year could even turn out to be “way in excess” of 2017’s exuberant levels, Khalid al-Falih, the normally cautious energy minister of Saudi Arabia predicts. Data from industries like aviation, shipping and trucking suggest he might be right.