About

About
Written by Karim Ait Abdelouahed

What this briefing is

Oil markets – drivers & flows is an independent, framework-driven oil market briefing for professionals who need to understand why prices move (Brent & WTI) — not just what happened.

The focus is not on reacting to news, but on understanding why price moves persist — or fail.

What you’ll get

  • Read time: ~5–7 minutes per issue.
  • Twice-monthly issues focused on what actually moves the curve — versus what makes noise.
  • A hierarchy of drivers: dominant vs secondary signals.
  • How positioning and flows interact with physical constraints.

The framework

The framework is designed to identify the binding constraint of the oil market at any given time.

  • Fundamentals: supply, demand, balances, inventories
  • Flows: physical trade, refinery runs, product cracks, freight/logistics
  • Macro & Financial: USD, rates, inflation, positioning, risk sentiment
  • Geopolitics & Policy: disruptions, sanctions, OPEC+ strategy, regulation

Who this is for

Buy-side and sell-side professionals, physical traders, risk managers, refiners, shipping/logistics teams, energy corporates — and anyone who needs a disciplined view of oil price formation.

It is not designed for short-term trading or headline-driven views.

What this is not

This publication is not investment advice. It is independent analysis designed to support professional decision-making.

No price targets. No trade recommendations.

About the author

Previously: BNP Paribas CIB, LafargeHolcim, Imperial Brands.

In my roles, I audited and challenged how organizations govern commodity exposure, hedging, and energy-cost risk.

My work has focused on hedging, exposure management, pricing risk and decision-making under uncertainty across energy-intensive businesses.

I apply that same risk-manager, evidence-based lens to Brent/WTI in Oil markets – drivers & flows: separating structural drivers from noise to support professional decision-making.

Contact

LinkedIn: Karim Ait Abdelouahed