OPEC secretary general says oil demand to remain robust, no change to estimates

OPEC expects robust oil demand growth and ​is not changing its estimates, ‌Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said, despite the ​Middle East conflict and closure of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz
Reuters Thursday, 4 June 2026

OPEC expects robust oil demand growth and ​is not changing its estimates, ‌Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said at the St Petersburg ​International Economic Forum, despite the ​Middle East conflict and closure of ⁠the Strait of Hormuz.

"Despite all ​the commentary out there that ​oil demand is declining, we have not registered signs of that yet," Al Ghais ​said.

"We still see robust demand ​growth at 1.2 million barrels a day ‌for ⁠this year," he said.

He also said that investments in the oil industry should not be affected ​by "one-off events" ​that happen ⁠anywhere in the world.

"We need to invest well ​ahead of time to be ​prepared ⁠for the demand that we see in the future," he said.