Japan Earthquake: Impact on Crude Oil, Fuel and Nuclear Power
http://www.favstocks.com/japan-earthquake-impact-on-crude-oil-fuel-and-nuclear-power/1336774/
While thereâs not one_easy answer, a good place to start is to_review_some oil barrel statistics of Japan.
Japan Imports part reduced by damaged refinery = 1.6% of World Demand ( 1.4 mil bod )
Based on the U.S. EIA data, Japan imported 4.7 million barrels a day (bpd) in 2009, with total oil refining capacity of 4.6 million bpd at 29 facilities as of January 2010. According to Reuters, the six_refineries_that are shut down have_a total capacity of 1.40 million barrels per day (bpd)._ Thatâs_about 1.6% of the 89.3 million bbl/d global 2011 product demand forecast by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
While Japan is the second-largest net importer of oil in the world after the United States in 2009, the_ estimated import disruptions_due to_the earthquake does not appear significant enough to sway worldâs crude oil market._
China Trade Deficit â Major Catalyst
From various indications, the drop of crude price after Japanâs earthquake_could be partly attributed to the_ knee-jerking reaction to a devastating natural disaster, some risk-off profit taking, USO starting its rollover on March 8, and the fizzled âDay of Rageâ protest in Saudi Arabia.
However, the major catalyst for the downward pressure on crude oil before and after_the Japan earthquake was the_surprise trade deficit numberâ$7.3 billion, the largest in 7 yearsâcoming out of China signaling an possible economic slowdown.
Japan to Increase Energy Imports after the quake
On the other hand, since about_25% of Japanâs electricity is coming from nuclear, the resulted power shortage due to closures of a dozen nuclear reactors after the quake_suggests Japan will likely need to increase its imports of petroleum_products and other energy sources (See Chart)._