9 Apr 2026, Thu

Factbox-Goldman Sachs lowers second-quarter 2026 oil price forecasts on US-Iran ceasefire

April 9 (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs trimmed its second‑quarter 2026 forecasts for Brent and U.S. crude to $90 and $87 a barrel, respectively, after the U.S. and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire.

Previously, the bank forecast Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil prices to average $99 and $91 a barrel, respectively.

Brent crude oil prices are down over 11% so far this week amid hopes that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

However, prices rose on Thursday on concerns that supply from the key Middle East producing region may not fully resume amid doubts about the ceasefire holding and as the crucial strait remains restricted. [O/R]

Meanwhile, ANZ in a note said that oil supply disruptions have materially tightened the global crude balance, shifting the market rapidly from early‑year surplus to a sizeable deficit.

“We see a credible risk that 1–2 mb/d (million barrel per day) of capacity may be permanently lost or limited, particularly from mature fields, constrained export systems and producers facing persistent sanctions or financing challenges,” the bank said.

ANZ said the market is likely to require sustained prices above $100/bbl to ration demand and prompt stock drawdowns, if recovery stalls at this week’s level, leaving deficits above 4–5 mb/d.

Brokerage/ Brent WTI  Forecasts Price

Agency as of  Targets

  2026 2027 2026 202    

7

$83 $80 $78 $75 April 9, Trims 2Q

Goldman ($85 ($79 2026 2026

Sachs previo previ Brent, WTI

usly) ously forecast

) to $90/$87

ANZ $92 %76 $88 $76 April 9,  

2026

Macquarie $89.28 $74.50 $82.9 $70 March 27  If the war

3 .50 continues

until end

of June,

oil prices

may rise

to $200

 

Morgan – $80 – – March 24, Expects

Stanley ($70 2026 Brent

previo prices to

usly) remain

above

$80/bbl

for the

rest of

2026

J.P Morgan – $72 – – March 20, Expects

2026 Brent

prices

averaging

$100/bbl 

in Q2’26,

$90/bbl in

Q3’26 and

$80/bbl in

Q4’26

Standard $85.50         Expects

Chartered ($70 Brent to

previo average

usly) $78/bbl in

Q1’26, and

$98/bbl in

Q2’26

BofA $77.50 $66 – $61 March 16, Expects

($61 ($62 ($5 2026 Brent to

previo previo 9 average

usly) usly) pre $80/bbl in

vio Q2’26, but

usl average

y) $76/bbl in

Q3’26

Barclays $85 – – – March 13, But if the

(from 2026 Strait of

$65 Hormuz

previo takes 4-6

usly) weeks to

The normalise,

foreca says Brent

st could

assume climb to

s the $100/bbl

Strait

of

Hormuz

normal

ises

in 2-3

weeks 

   

BMI $70 $70 $68 $68 March 12, Expects

($67 2026 Brent to

previo average

usly) $67/bbl

and

$69/bbl in

Q3’26 and

Q4’26,

respective

ly.

Citi $71 $64 $68($ $61 March 11, Anticipate

($63 60 2026 s Brent

previo previ averaging

usly) ously $75/bbl in

) Q1’26,

$78/bbl in

Q2’26, and

$68/bbl in

Q3’26

HSBC $80 $70($6 $76($ $67 March 10,  

($65 6 61 ($6 2026

previo previo previ 3

usly) usly) ously pre

) vio

usl

y)

  – – – – March 6, Expects

2026 crude

prices

could rise

to

$150/bbl

or above

if the

Strait of

Hormuz

remains

closed for

several

weeks

UBS $72 $70 $68($ $66 March 4, Expects

($62 58 2026 prices 

previo previ to move

usly) ously towards

) >$100/bbl

and into

more

severe

demand 

destructio

n of the

territory

of

$120+/bbl

if flows

through

Hormuz

remain

disrupted

(Reporting by Anmol Choubey in Bengaluru, editing by Deepa Babington and Lincoln Feast)