HSBC raises 2026 Brent price forecast to $95 per barrel

March 13, 2026 4:25 AM EDT

FILE PHOTO: A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Eli Hartman/File Photo

May 12 (Reuters) - HSBC raised ‌its 2026 ​average ​Brent price forecast to $95 a barrel last week, citing a longer effective closure of the Strait ‌of Hormuz.

"Our base case now assumes that Hormuz traffic ⁠and Gulf output gradually restart from mid‑June, and a return to ‌near‑normal system-level production and flows ‌by end‑3Q26," HSBC said in a note dated May 6.

It added that a longer disruption implies larger inventory drawdowns, ​a more challenging post‑war refill, and a higher residual risk premium, supporting a higher long‑term price anchor.

In HSBC's ⁠scenario-based assumptions, the bank sees Brent averaging around $110 a barrel in 2026 and $85 ​a barrel in 2027 if a deal is only reached towards late summer but oil prices ​periodically correct on headlines.

The bank said ‌that in a "pessimistic" scenario where a comprehensive deal takes around six months, leaving flows heavily ⁠constrained, Brent would average $120 per barrel in 2026 and $95 per barrel in 2027.

Oil prices rose by more than 3% on Tuesday as ⁠stark differences between the U.S. and Iran on a proposal to end ​the war in the Middle East pushed supply concerns back into the spotlight. [O/R]

Brokerage/ Brent WTI Forecasts Price

Agency as of Targets

2026 2027 2026 202

7

Goldman $90 ($83 $85 $83 $80 April 26, Raises 4Q

Sachs previousl ($80 ($78 ($7 2026 2026

y) previo previ 5 Brent, WTI

usly) ously pre forecast

) vio to $90/$83

usl

y)

Citi $91 $75 $83 $70 April 26, Raises

2026 Brent

price

forecast

to

$110/bbl

in Q2'26,

$95/bbl in

Q3'26 and

$80/bbl in

Q4'26

ANZ $92 $76 $88 $76 April ‌9,

2026

UBS - - - - April 13, Expects

2026 prices

to trade

>$150/bbl

if flows

through

Hormuz

remain

disrupted.

Sees Brent

at

$100/bbl

by

end-June

2026, $95

by

end-Sept,

$90 by

end-Dec

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. - $72 - - March 20, Expects

Morgan 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

previousl average

y) $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

previousl previo 9 average

y) usly) pre $80/bbl in

vio Q2'26, but

usl average

y) $76/bbl ‌in

Q3'26

Barclays $100 - - - May 1 If the

(from $85 current

previousl situation

y) continues

through

the ​end of

May,

forward-im

plied 2026

Brent

should

reprice to

$110/b

BMI $70 ($67 $70 $68 $68 March 12, Expects

previousl 2026 Brent to

y) average

$67/bbl

and

$69/bbl in

Q3’26 and

Q4'26,

respective

ly.

HSBC $95 ($80 $75 - - May 06,

previousl ($70 2026

y) previo

usly)

(Reporting by Anjana Anil in Bengaluru; Editing by Joe ‌Bavier)



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