Amrita Sen: China's stockpiling has kept the physical oil market very tight

Group 1 - The recent rebound in oil prices, although not a full recovery, indicates a significant market reaction to social media posts and comments, suggesting a belief that tensions may not escalate further [1][2] - Market sentiment reflects an expectation that both the US and China will maintain current tariff levels around 53% rather than increasing them to 100%, despite a deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop [2][3] - There has been a shift away from safe haven assets, with gold and silver rallying, indicating that the overall macro environment is not favorable for risk appetite [3] Group 2 - Concerns about a global economic slowdown, particularly between the US and China, have been prevalent, with China stockpiling significant amounts in its strategic petroleum reserve [4][5] - Chinese stockpiling has been a critical factor in the oil market, with 90% of stock increases this year going into Chinese reserves, keeping the physical market tight [5][6] - The broader implications of stockpiling extend beyond oil, touching on issues like dollarization and potential currency devaluation, which could affect import costs [7] Group 3 - For investors, the key question is whether the outcome of US-China trade talks matters for the oil market, with the consensus being that a resolution allowing for continued global economic growth is more important than which side prevails [8] - Current oil demand growth is estimated to be around 800,000 to 900,000 barrels per day, which is manageable, but concerns arise if conditions worsen, potentially leading to demand growth dropping to half a million barrels per day or less [9][10] - Initial fears that drove market reactions have subsided, indicating that the worst-case scenarios may no longer be anticipated [10]