Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and the downturn in economic activity, in China and then in the rest of the world, the prices of black gold have dropped dramatically. The price of a barrel has even fallen to a lowest since 2002, around 20 dollars. This situation can be explained by both a sharp drop in demand and an always abundant supply.

>> See our debate: "Oil, coronavirus ... Panic on the world economy!"

But for François-Xavier Chauchat, economist at Dorval Asset Management, "the lowest oil price is near", and the equilibrium price, in the long term, would be around 40 dollars per barrel of Brent.

On the other hand, given the cost of extracting shale oil, he stressed that "it is the American oil tankers who will suffer the most". And some small producers may not survive this crisis.

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