Energy market uncertainty and supply risks persist

Experts at the Forbes Money Summit have warned of ongoing instability in global energy markets driven by geopolitical tensions and depleting reserves. Tamás Pletser, a senior portfolio manager at OTP Asset Management, noted that Middle Eastern conflicts have removed significant crude oil from the global supply. He estimated that global crude oil reserves could decrease by 3 to 4 million barrels daily, while diesel stocks may drop by 1 to 2 million barrels daily.

Gábor Szőcs, a senior portfolio manager at Hold Asset Management, offered a more moderate outlook, suggesting current market pressures are less severe than the 2022 gas crisis. He noted that while fuel costs remain a factor, the economic burden on GDP is currently lower than during the previous peak of the energy crisis.

In the corporate sector, a survey by Prologis Research revealed that nine out of ten leaders of the world's largest companies experienced energy supply disruptions in the past year. This instability is prompting many firms to rethink their energy strategies, with an increasing focus on transitioning to electric alternatives, such as heat pumps and solar power, or implementing hybrid systems to manage costs and carbon emissions.