Crude oil exports plunge as resource depletes
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Vietnam’s crude oil export is plunging, partly because of depleting resources. An industrialist says the situation can only improve after new fields come online in several years.
Crude exports volume from January 1 to February 15 this year fell nearly 50 percent year-on-year to 354,700 tonnes, according to Vietnam Customs.
Most of Vietnam’s oil and gas fields have been harnessed for over 20 years ago and run their course, said Hoang Ngoc Trung, deputy director of Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation Ltd.
In the last five years, crude oil prices have been falling, which has affected investment in searching for new fields, he told the Tuoi Tre newspaper.
The corporation’s output was 3.8 million tonnes last year, down marginally from 2019, and the figure is set to fall another 10 percent this year.
However, Vietnam’s crude oil prices remain higher than the global average.
The global average price of Brent crude oil last year was $41.8 per barrel, but Vietnam sold them for $43.7, 4.5 percent higher.
In the first two months, Brent crude was $58.53 per barrel, compared to $59.94 percent in Vietnam.
Trung said exploitation volume is set to recover in the next two or three years with several new fields such as Dai Hung and White Lion coming online.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the main reason for Vietnam's current drop in crude oil exports?
What is the main reason for Vietnam's current drop in crude oil exports?
The primary cause is the depletion of existing resources, as most oil and gas fields have been exploited for over two decades. Investment in new fields has also been affected by falling crude oil prices in recent years.
Q.How much have Vietnam's crude exports fallen in early 2021 compared to the previous year?
How much have Vietnam's crude exports fallen in early 2021 compared to the previous year?
Crude export volume from January 1 to February 15 this year dropped by nearly 50 percent year-on-year. This amounts to 354,700 tonnes, according to figures from Vietnam Customs.
Q.When is the crude oil exploitation volume expected to improve in Vietnam?
When is the crude oil exploitation volume expected to improve in Vietnam?
Exploitation volume is projected to recover in the next two to three years. This is anticipated as new fields, including Dai Hung and White Lion, are scheduled to come online.
Q.Why has investment in new oil fields been impacted recently?
Why has investment in new oil fields been impacted recently?
Investment in searching for new fields has been negatively affected by falling crude oil prices over the last five years. Lower prices make such long-term projects less financially attractive.
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