# Coronavirus and oil: Why crude has been hit hard

> Opec and its allies were expected to meet as crude fell about 20% from its January peak, reaching its lowest level in a year. Coronavirus-related Lunar New Year extensions and travel restrictions in China shut factories and cut oil consumption, and airlines suspended flights, hitting jet fuel demand. Sinopec reportedly cut crude processing by about 12%.

- Date: 2020-02-04 · published 2020-02-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region Global · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/7408-coronavirus-and-oil-why-crude-has-been-hit-hard
- Commodities: [Crude Oil (WTI)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WTI.md), [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md), [ULSD / Diesel](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DIESEL.md)

## Why it matters

Sharp demand destruction in China and aviation fuel weakness point to lower crude and diesel prices, while possible OPEC output cuts could partly offset the decline. The net price direction depends on whether producers act.

## Read by commodity

- WTI: bearish ▼
- BRENT: bearish ▼
- DIESEL: bearish ▼

## Linked price moves

| Commodity | Date | Window | Change % | z-score | Why linked |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2020-02-04 | 5 | -9.3% | -2.8 | Explains the demand mechanism: factory shutdowns, Sinopec run cuts of ~12% and lower jet fuel demand hit crude. |

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WTI | 2020-02-03 | [Oil hits 13-month lows as coronavirus cuts demand](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7406-oil-hits-13-month-lows-as-coronavirus-cuts-demand.md) | -2.4% | -9.3% |
| WTI | 2020-01-30 | [How coronavirus, climate change and OPEC will continue to move crude oil prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55264-how-coronavirus-climate-change-and-opec-will-continue-to-move-crude-oil-prices.md) | -4.6% | -11.6% |
| WTI | 2020-01-27 | [Oil hits more than 3-month low on fears coronavirus will slow growth](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55262-oil-hits-more-than-3-month-low-on-fears-coronavirus-will-slow-growth.md) | -4.7% | -5.1% |
| WTI | 2021-11-26 | [Oil crashes as coronavirus strain threatens demand recovery \| Oil and Gas News \| Al Jazeera](https://feedsoft.ai/events/4773-oil-crashes-as-coronavirus-strain-threatens-demand-recovery-oil-and-gas-news-al.md) | -15.0% | -5.7% |
| WTI | 2020-02-04 | [Oil extends decline as virus hits China demand \| Daily FT](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7410-oil-extends-decline-as-virus-hits-china-demand-daily-ft.md) | -1.0% | -5.7% |
| BRENT | 2020-02-03 | [Oil hits 13-month lows as coronavirus cuts demand](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7406-oil-hits-13-month-lows-as-coronavirus-cuts-demand.md) | -6.0% | -12.2% |
| BRENT | 2020-01-30 | [How coronavirus, climate change and OPEC will continue to move crude oil prices](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55264-how-coronavirus-climate-change-and-opec-will-continue-to-move-crude-oil-prices.md) | -7.2% | -9.1% |
| BRENT | 2020-01-27 | [Oil hits more than 3-month low on fears coronavirus will slow growth](https://feedsoft.ai/events/55262-oil-hits-more-than-3-month-low-on-fears-coronavirus-will-slow-growth.md) | -3.4% | -2.4% |

## Sources

- bbc.com: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51353146

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.