Oil prices expected to fall in 2026 as Wall Street sees 'punishing oversupply' risking return to COVID levels

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street's top investment banks predict challenging years for the oil industry in 2026 and 2027 following a nearly 20% decline in oil prices in 2023 [1] Price Forecasts - JPMorgan's commodities team forecasts Brent crude oil to fall to $58 per barrel in 2026, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) trading $4 below this level; prices are expected to decline by another $1 per barrel in 2027 [2] - Goldman Sachs predicts Brent and WTI prices at $56 and $52 per barrel respectively for the next year, with expectations of recovery to $80 and $76 per barrel by 2028, assuming oversupply does not persist [3][4] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The oil market is characterized by oversupply, with global supply continuing to rise despite robust demand; this trend is expected to persist into the next year [5] - OPEC+ has increased output by more than 2 million barrels per day since April, while US shale production is projected to reach record highs in December [6] - Heavy stockpiling by China absorbed much of the excess supply in the first half of 2025, supporting prices [6] Market Conditions - Demand from the Middle East remains stable, and Indian refiners are increasing purchases of Urals crude from Russia; however, over 1 billion barrels are currently stored in tankers globally, marking the highest level since 2023 [7] - The International Energy Agency anticipates a supply glut in 2026, predicting an overhang of 4 million barrels per day [7]