US-led Yemen airstrikes escalate, prompting surge in oil prices

In response to a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea, the US and its allies carried out airstrikes on over a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen. This move significantly heightened tensions in the Middle East, escalating from previous conflicts. Oil prices surged by 2.5%, reaching fears of increased disruption to shipping and potential broader regional conflicts. Analysts from UBS, ING, Vanda Insights, Westpac Banking, and Saxo Capital Markets provide insights into the geopolitical risks and their implications for oil markets, anticipating higher prices and emphasising potential disruptions.

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What the US-led Airstrikes on Yemen Will Mean for Oil Prices

By Sharon Cho and Yongchang Chin

The US and its allies launched airstrikes on more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen, in retaliation for a spate of attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

The attack represents a major escalation of tensions in the Middle East that have been simmering since the Hamas attack on Israel in early October. Brent jumped as much as 2.5% on fears there would be more disruption to shipping, and that the conflict could expand into a broader regional conflagration.

With the Houthis vowing continued attacks on shipping and Iran condemning the action, here’s what analysts are saying the heightened geopolitical risks mean for oil markets:

UBS Group AG

Oil’s bounce was driven by the market’s perception that this is an escalation of the conflict, said Giovanni Staunovo, a commodity strategist at UBS Group AG. However, “any risk premium will only sustain if there are disruptions to oil supply,” he said.

“We look for higher prices over the coming months, expecting Brent to move above $80 a barrel, as result of OPEC+ production cuts keeping the oil market slightly undersupplied,” Staunovo said.

ING Groep NV

The US and UK airstrikes didn’t come as a surprise, but given the threat faced by vessels and the disruptions to trade flows from Houthi attacks, it’s clearly a ratcheting up of the conflict, according to Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV.

That suggests “greater potential for disruptions and the need for vessels to divert,” which will provide upside to oil prices, he said, adding the bigger risk is if the conflict spreads and the market starts seeing threats to flows coming out of the Persian Gulf. “While we believe the risk of this is low, the impact would be significant.”

Vanda Insights

“Quite a bit of the new risk premium has already been priced in,” said Vandana Hari, founder of consultancy Vanda Insights. “We might see crude stacking on another dollar or two… I expect a degree of restraint and back-channel diplomacy to keep the tensions from spiraling out of control and causing a regional conflagration,” she said, as none of the powers involved want the worst-case scenario to play out.

“The fluctuations in prices will absolutely remain in place as the situation develops. It’s an uneven tug of war between a bearish outlook on fundamentals and a supportive Mideast risk premium,” Hari said. “As of now, both can be expected to remain in play for the next few months.”

Westpac Banking

“The US, UK had warned that action would take place if the Houthi rebels continued their attacks, so this action should not really be unexpected,” said Robert Rennie, head of commodity and carbon research at Westpac Banking Corp.

Markets have arguably been too focused on rising global supply through the end of 2023, while the sharp deterioration in the situation in the Red Sea has been underplayed so far in 2024, he said. Given that Houthi leaders have said any US attack would not go without a response, West Texas Intermediate could rise above $75 a barrel and Brent could surpass $80.

Saxo Capital Markets

The airstrikes have raised the risk of an escalation and that could bring oil and haven demand in focus in the very near term, said Charu Chanana, market strategist for Saxo Capital Markets Pte.

There are upside risks to oil prices if the conflict escalates, and volatility could increase “as oil markets continue to assess the several catalysts from OPEC+ cuts to non-OPEC supply and the US and China demand outlook.”