IEA — Oil Market Reports March and April 2026

date compiled: 2026-04-14
institution: International Energy Agency (IEA)
type: intergovernmental-organization
description: Documents first global oil demand contraction in 6 years (−80 kb/d full-year) and 400 Mb emergency stock release that proved insufficient against 440 Mb cumulative April supply losses; physical crude traded near $150/bbl versus ~$115/bbl futures.
sources:
- IEA Oil Market Report — March 2026 (published March 2026)
- IEA Oil Market Report — April 2026 (Breaking Update, published April 2026)
source urls:
- https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-march-2026
- https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-april-2026
questions addressed: Q1, Q2, Q3
description: The IEA provides the most authoritative multilateral assessment of the Hormuz disruption, documenting the first global oil demand contraction in 6 years (−80 kb/d full-year) and a 400 Mb emergency stock release that proved insufficient against 440 Mb cumulative April supply losses; physical crude traded near $150/bbl versus ~$115/bbl futures.
description: The IEA provides the most authoritative multilateral assessment of the Hormuz disruption, documenting the first global oil demand contraction in 6 years (−80 kb/d full-year) and a 400 Mb emergency stock release that proved insufficient against 440 Mb cumulative April supply losses; physical crude traded near $150/bbl versus ~$115/bbl futures.

Related Articles¶

q1-supply-destruction · q2-price-impact · q3-europe-impact · synthesis

March 2026 Report — First Institutional Assessment¶

Key Data Points (March Report)¶

• Hormuz status: Closed since ~28 February 2026 following outbreak of hostilities
• Crude production shut-in: At least 8 mb/d (million barrels per day)
• Condensates/NGLs shut-in: Further 2 mb/d
• Refining capacity at risk: More than 4 mb/d (refineries shut down due to attacks or safety concerns)
• Total exports disrupted: Nearly 20 mb/d of crude and product exports
• Price impact: Benchmark crude oil prices surged by $20/bbl to $92/bbl since outbreak of hostilities
• Global oil demand growth forecast: Reduced by 210 kb/d to 640 kb/d for 2026 as a whole; reduced by more than 1 mb/d on average in March and April
• Global observed inventories: More than 8.2 billion barrels — highest level since February 2021
• IEA emergency reserves release: Member countries agreed on 11 March to make available an unprecedented 400 million barrels (Mb) of oil from emergency reserves
• LPG/naphtha disruption: Plunging supplies forcing petrochemical plants to curb polymer production; cooking/heating LPG supply at risk for India and East Africa
• Jet fuel demand: Materially reduced due to flight suspensions at major Middle East airports and knock-on effects elsewhere

April 2026 Report — Breaking Update (Most Recent)¶

Key Data Points (April Report)¶

• Hormuz loadings (early April): Averaging around 3.8 mb/d, compared with more than 20 mb/d in February ahead of the crisis
• Alternative export routes (early April): Increased to 7.2 mb/d from less than 4 mb/d before the war — via Saudi Arabia's west coast (Yanbu), UAE Fujairah, and the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline (ITP) to Ceyhan
• Total oil export loss: Exceeds 13 mb/d (with associated production curtailment and infrastructure damage)
• Cumulative supply losses: More than 360 Mb in March; projected 440 Mb in April
• Global oil stocks: Fell by 85 Mb in March despite accumulation in the Middle East and China; Asia crude stocks dropped 31 Mb
• Demand impact: Global oil demand estimated to contract by 800 kb/d year-on-year in March and by 2.3 mb/d in April
• Full-year 2026 demand forecast: Now projected to decline by 80 kb/d on average in 2026, compared to growth of 730 kb/d expected in the previous report — the first contraction in 6 years
• Physical crude prices: Surged to record levels near $150/bbl in early April, far above futures markets; physical-futures disconnect acute
• Middle distillate prices: Singapore middle distillate prices reaching all-time highs above $290/bbl
• Asian petrochemical cuts: Petrochemical producers curtailed operating rates as feedstock supply dried up
• Ceasefire context: A two-week ceasefire announced provided "welcome respite" but status of lasting peace and return to regular Hormuz flows remained unclear at time of writing
• US blockade: Announced US blockade on vessels entering/departing Iranian ports and coastal areas — due to go into effect after time of writing
• Refinery runs: Middle East and feedstock-constrained Asia refineries cut runs by around 6 mb/d to 77.2 mb/d in April

Two Cases Presented in April Report¶

1. Baseline (assumed in the forecast): Resumption of regular deliveries of oil and gas from the Middle East to international markets by mid-year 2026 — but not back to pre-conflict levels
2. Alternative ("Strait Down" scenario): Risks to Middle East energy production and trade remain high due to prolonged conflict; energy markets and economies brace for significant ongoing disruptions

Critical Significance¶

The April IEA report marks the first time in approximately 6 years that global oil demand is projected to contract on an annual basis. The report documents the physical crude market trading at a massive premium to futures — near $150/bbl in physical markets vs. ~$115/bbl futures — a sign of extreme near-term physical tightness.

The 400 Mb emergency stock release authorized March 11 appears insufficient relative to the 440 Mb cumulative April losses — raising questions about whether the release can meaningfully dampen spot prices during the acute phase.

Comparison to Other Institutions (IEA Position)¶

q1-supply-destruction · q2-price-impact · q3-europe-impact

Bibliography¶

• https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-march-2026
• https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-april-2026