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Paris - World oil demand growth soared to a four-year high in the first three months of 2015, but the surge is unlikely to persist, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its monthly report on Thursday.
The strong growth, which reached 1.7 million barrels per day (mbd) in the first quarter, was underpinned by an economic recovery, a European winter that was colder than the previous year's and lower crude prices which spurred consumption.
Annual growth
The Agency said: "There are doubts, however, that the trio will persist" in the second half of 2015.
Heating needs are not expected to reach high levels in the next three months of the year and crude prices have also started to rise and are therefore likely to stymie demand.
"After a resurgent (first half), annual growth is forecast to ease somewhat in (the second half) to 1.2 mbd," it said.
Nevertheless, for the full year, it raised its demand growth forecast to 94.0 mbd, 0.3 mbd higher than its prediction a month ago.
Supply is also expected to remain ample.
Taking time
The oil cartel OPEC is seen pumping at around 31 mbd as "Middle East producers sustain higher rates to preserve market share and meet summer domestic demand".
Growth in non-OPEC supply is meanwhile seen rising to 1 mbd.
"Lower oil prices and a drop in capital spending are taking time to curb non-OPEC supply," said the IEA.
