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SEB Jordbruksprodukter, 30 augusti 2012

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SEB Veckobrev Jordbruksprodukter - AnalysDet har varit stora prisuppgångar på spannmål i sommar. Det finns tecken på att majspriset faktiskt börjar ransonera efterfrågan på majs. Såväl vete som sojabönor ser fortfarande starka ut.

På fredag är det ministermöte (igen) i Ryssland om skörde- och exportsituationen. Nästa vecka kommer WASDE-rapporten. Det finns inte mycket nyheter för marknaden att ta fasta på innan dess, så det lär inte hända så mycket – om nu inte Ryssland ger oss någon nyhet.

Odlingsväder

ENSO fortsätter att surfa på gränsen till ett riktigt El Niño. SOI ligger under gränsen för El Niño på -8. Däremot har andra indikatorer som molnighet inte uppvisat typiska El Niñomönster de senaste två veckorna. Klimatmodeller prognosticerar att ENSO kommer att fortsätta ligga på gränsen fram till slutet av året eller in i början på 2013, för att sedan återgå till normala ENSO-förhållanden.

Odlingsväder - Graf - ENSO

Vete

Tekniskt har Matif-november fortsatt att röra sig inom den triangel som vi anser kommer att brytas på uppsidan. Ett sådant brott uppåt har enligt den tekniska analysen potential att gå upp till 286 euro per ton. Det finns två potentiella triggers för detta. Det ryska ministermötet på fredag och WASDE-rapporten nästa vecka.

Matif-vete, prognos på priset den 29 augusti 2012

Nedan ser vi Chicagovetet med leverans i december. Den tekniska bilden indikerar samma sak här.

Chicagovete - Graf med prisprognos den 29 augusti 2012

I diagrammet nedan ser vi terminspriserna framåt i tiden för Chicago och Matif och förändringen från 7 dagar sedan. Vi ser att backwardation har minskat i USA. Priset för leverans nästa november (2013) är ca 20 euro per ton högre i Chicago än i Paris.

Diagram över terminspriser på vete år 2012 till 2015

Det ryska jordbruksministeriet rapporterade igår (onsdag) att 53.4 mt spannmål och baljväxter har skördats hittills. Avkastningen ligger på 1.92 mt / ha. Förra året var det 2.63 ton/ha. Det är en minskning med 27%. Jordbruksministern upprepade sin prognos om en skörd på 75 mt, en minskning med 20% från förra årets 94 mt. Han sade att exportpotentialen är 12 mt. 2011/12 exporterade Ryssland 21.6 mt, enligt USDA.

Prognos på jordbruksprodukterNu på fredag möts ryska ministrar och experter och diskuterar skörden och exportmöjligheterna. Vi har tidigare visat att Rysslands nya medlemskap i WTO inte har tagit bort risken för ett exportstopp. Enligt WTO:s regelverk får Ryssland införa exportbegränsningar om det meddelar de andra länderna och om exportstoppet är tillfälligt, och det lär det ju vara.

Det är naturligtvis svårt för oss på SEB att följa vad som sägs i hela världen om exportstopp i alla länder. Ett enkelt sätt är att räkna alla artiklar som innehåller nyckelorden Wheat+Export+Ban och det ser vi nedan. Den senaste veckan har det talats mindre om exportstopp. Kanske marknaden är trött på ”storyn”.

Det franska jordbruksministeriet meddelade igår att ”World Food Security Situation Not Threatened for Now”. Fast de sade det väl på franska. Frankrike har inrättat det så kallade ”Rapid Response Forum” förra året för att hindra att länder inför exportbegränsningar. Det är en del av ”The Agricultural Market Information System” som inrättats på beslut av G20. Jag förmodar att de får anledning att träffas igen snart, allra senast efter USDA:s rapport nästa vecka.

Vetepriset och nyhetssentiment

De två senaste veckorna har det kommit ner nederbörd över Indien, vilket har fått läget att ljusna för grödor som majs, ris och sojabönor. 50% av Indien är drabbat av torka. Det minskar trycket på staten att införa exportbegränsningar. Arealen sådd med ris har ökat till 32.9 miljoner hektar från 30.8 förra året. Förra årets skörd var rekordhöga 91.5 mt, enligt det indiska jordbruksministeriet.

Orkanen Isaac som nådde fastlandet via Louisiana ger nederbörd, som förbättrar markfukten inför höstsådden av SRWW, även om stormen också fördröjer fältarbetet.

Maltkorn

Novemberkontraktet på maltkorn har funnit stöd och ser ur teknisk synvinkel ut att kunna stiga den närmaste tiden.

Graf över prisutveckling och prognos för maltkorn

Potatis

Potatishaussen fick priset att fortsätta stiga efter förra veckobrevet. Efter att ha nått över 24 euro per deciton, föll priset hastigt tillbaka till 20 euro, men har de senaste två dagarna åter stigit och ligger nu på 23 euro. Vi vet att det fanns säljare på över 24 euro, så det återstår att se om de är starka nog.

Pris på potatis steg kraftigt under augusti 2012

Nedan ser vi terminskurvan för industripotatis på Eurex. Priset för nästa års skörd ligger på 15 euro per deciton. Det är det man ska räkna med att få betalt för nästa års skörd.

Tycker man att det är en bra prisnivå kan man välja att sälja terminer för att prissäkra. Korrelationen över skördeåren mellan tysk industripotatistermin och till och med svensk matpotatisnotering är högre än 0.5. Prissäkring med de här terminerna ger en riskminskning. Trots att det är en annan kvalitet och ett annat land.

Terminer på industripotatis - Priser på Eurex

Majs

Majspriset har inte riktigt lyckats hitta nya toppnivåer och det är ett svaghetstecken. Marknaden ligger inom en triangelformation. Ett brott nedåt ur den vore inte bra och skulle innebära att vi skulle reducera långa positioner kraftigt och kanske till och med gå kort.

Diagram över majspriset - Prognos den 29 augusti 2012

Nedan ser vi terminskurvan framåt i tiden för majs.

Framtida majspris år 2012, 2013 etc enligt terminskurvor

Måndagens crop ratings för majs var kom in med 22% i good/excellent condition. Förra veckan var det 23%. Poor / Very poor kom in på 52% (upp en procentenhet).

Orkanen Isaac, som nådde fastlandet vid Louisiana kommer att ge mellan 70 och 80 mm nederbörd över Missouri de kommande tre dagarna, enligt National Weather Service. Det kommer också att blåsa en hel del och det kan skada majsfälten som pga torkan har svaga stjälkar. Berörda stater är Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas och Mississippi. Etanolproduktionen har nu äntligen minskat efter de senaste veckornas uppgång. Det är en minskning från 823,000 fat/dag till 819,000 fat, enligt DOE:s veckostatistik. Vi får tolka det som att det finns tecken på att det höga majspriset faktiskt ransonerar konsumtionen.

Graf över prisutveckling på etanol år 2011 och 2012

Enligt USDA-rapporten den 10 augusti går 42% av amerikansk majsproduktion till etanolproduktion. Priset på etanol har backat i pris de senaste dagarna.

Sojabönor

Triangelformationen är bruten på uppsidan och har nu etablerat sig över toppen från juli. Vi ser det som en konsolidering inför nästa uppgångsfas, till den teoretiska målkursen 1879 cent / bu.

Tekniska grafer över pris på sojabönor

Crop conditions visar en minskning på 1% i kategorin ”good” och en ökning i ”very poor”. 38% är i poor / very poor condition medan 30% är good eller very good condition. Orkanen Isaac ger nederbörd, som berört under majs-avsnittet, men nederbörden är för sen för att påverka sojaskörden, eftersom den är tre veckor tidig och sojabönornas baljor redan är satta.

Raps

Vi tror alltjämt att rapsterminen för novemberleverans är på väg högre. Den snabba ”dippen” häromdagen, som återhämtade sig så snabbt, tyder på att köparna fortfarande har kommandot över marknaden. På ovansidan finns ett motstånd på 524.75 euro per ton. Vi tror att det ska testas igen – och övervinnas.

Prisutveckling på raps - TA-prognos 29 augusti 2012

Gris

Grispriset befinner sig i en tydlig bear market. Nedan ser vi baissen på grismarknaden.

Grispriset i tydlig bear market

Mjölk

Priset på mjölkpulver i Nordeuropa har fortsatt att stiga ännu en vecka. Nedanför ser vi oktoberkontraktet. Det har fortsatt att öka till 2718, från 2625 euro per ton.

Pris på mjölkpulver i Nordeuropa - 2012

Nedan ser vi priset på smör, också oktoberkontraktet såsom handlat på EUREX. Priset är angivet i euro per ton.

Diagram över pris på smör vid Eurex

På den amerikanska börsen har priset också stigit. EUREX som representerar marknaden i Europa har börjat bli allt mer med världsmarknadens pris, representerat av terminerna i Chicago.

Graf över prisutveckling på mjölk i Chicago år 2011 och 2012

Socker

Priset på socker har studsat upp från strax under 20 cent och ligger nu på nästan exakt 20 cent. Trenden är ner, men trenden är också gammal.

Utveckling över pris på socker - Trend framåt oklar

EURSEK

EURSEK svarar på ett starkt tekniskt stöd. Vi tror på sidledes rörelse den närmaste veckan. Augustis sidledes rörelse såg först ut som en paus inför fortsatt nedgång, men man ska inte se kursrörelser som i tisdags och i onsdags i en korrektion. Vi kan nu få se en uppgång mot 8.50 kr per euro.

EURSEK - Diagram och prognos den 29 augusti 2012

USDSEK

Dollarn har svarat på supportområdet och hoppat upp från det. Stödet ligger vid 6.60 kr. Priset kan i första hand gå upp till 6.80, men det mest troliga är fortsatt sidledes rörelse med stödet under.

Diagram över USDSEK och prognos - 2012

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Disclaimer

The information in this document has been compiled by SEB Merchant Banking, a division within Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) (“SEB”).

Opinions contained in this report represent the bank’s present opinion only and are subject to change without notice. All information contained in this report has been compiled in good faith from sources believed to be reliable. However, no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, is made with respect to the completeness or accuracy of its contents and the information is not to be relied upon as authoritative. Anyone considering taking actions based upon the content of this document is urged to base his or her investment decisions upon such investigations as he or she deems necessary. This document is being provided as information only, and no specific actions are being solicited as a result of it; to the extent permitted by law, no liability whatsoever is accepted for any direct or consequential loss arising from use of this document or its contents.

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Analys

Now it’s up to OPEC+

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All eyes are now back at OPEC+ after the recent fall in oil prices along with weakening crude curve structures and weakening economic statistics. OPEC+ will have to step up the game and give solid guidance of what it intends to do in 2024. If Saudi Arabia is to carry the burden alone (with only a little help from Russia) it will likely need to keep its production at around 9.0 m b/d on average for 2024 and drop it down towards 8.5 m b/d in Q1-24. This may be too much to ask from Saudi Arabia and it may demand some of the other OPEC members to step up and join in on the task to regulate the market in 2024. More specifically this means Iraq, Kuwait and UAE. The oil market will likely be quite nervous until a firm message from Saudi/Russia/OPEC+ is delivered to the market some time in December.

Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities at SEB
Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities, SEB

Saudi Arabia may get some help from President Joe Biden though as his energy secretary adviser, Amos Hochstein, has stated that the US will enforce sanctions on Iran on more than 1 m b/d. 

Brent crude fell 4.6% ydy to USD 77.4/b and over the last three trading sessions it has lost USD 5.1/b. This morning it is trading only marginally higher at USD 77.6/b which is no vote of confidence. A good dose of rebound this morning would have been a signal that the sell-off yesterday possibly was exaggerated and solely driven by investors with long positions flocking to the exit. So there’s likely more downside to come.

In general there is a quite good relationship between net long speculative positions in Brent crude and WTI versus the global manufacturing cycle. Oil investors overall typically have an aversion of holding long positions in oil when the global economy is slowing down. As of yet there are few signs that the global economic cycle is about to turn. Rather the opposite seems to be the case. Global manufacturing fell in October and yesterday we saw US industrial production fall 0.6% MoM while continued jobless claims rose more than expected and to the highest level in two years. This matches well with the logic that the strong rise in interest rates since March 2022 is inflicting pain on the economy with more pain ahead as the effect comes with a lag.

Most estimates are that the global oil market is running a solid deficit in Q4-23. The IEA has an implied deficit in the global oil market of 1 m b/d in Q4-23 if we assume that OPEC will produce 28 m b/d vs. a call-on-OPEC at 29 m b/d. But prices in the oil market is telling a different story with weakening crude curves, weakening refining margins and a sharp sell-off in oil prices.

For 2024 the general forecasts are that global economic growth will slow, global oil demand growth will slow and also that the need for oil from OPEC will fall from 28.7 m b/d to 28.4 m b/d (IEA). This is a bearish environment for oil. The average Brent crude oil price so far this year is about USD 83/b. It should essentially be expected to deliver lower in 2024 with the negatives mentioned above.

Two things however will likely counter this and they are interconnected. US shale oil activity has been slowing with falling drilling rig count since early December 2022 and that has been happening at an average WTI price of USD 78/b. The result is that total US liquids production is set to grow by only 0.3 m b/d YoY in Q4-24. This allows OPEC+ to support the oil price at USD 80-90/b through 2024 without fear of loosing a significant market share to US oil production. Thus slowing US liquids production and active price management by OPEC+ goes hand in hand. As such we do expect OPEC+ to step up to the task.

So far it has predominantly been Saudi Arabia with a little help from Russia which together proactively have managed the oil market and the oil price through significant cuts. Saudi Arabia produced 10.5 m b/d in April but then cut production rapidly to only 9.0 m b/d which is what it still produces. Its normal production is about 10 m b/d.

What has made the situation more difficult for Saudi Arabia is the combination of solid growth in non-OPEC supply in 2023 (+2.1 m b/d YoY; IEA) but also a substantial revival in production by Venezuela and Iran. The two produced 660 k b/d more in October than they on average did in 2022. So the need for oil from Saudi Arabia is squeezed from both sides.

All eyes are now back at OPEC+ after the recent fall in oil prices along with weakening crude curve structures and weakening economic statistics.

OPEC+ will have to step up the game and give solid guidance of what it intends to do in 2024. If Saudi Arabia is to carry the burden alone (with only a little help from Russia) then it will likely need to keep its production at around 9.0 m b/d on average for 2024 and drop it down towards 8.5 m b/d in Q1-24. This may be too much to ask from Saudi Arabia and it may demand some of the other OPEC members to step up and join in on the task to regulate the market in 2024. More specifically this means Iraq, Kuwait and UAE.

The oil market will likely be quite nervous until a firm message from Saudi/Russia/OPEC+ is delivered to the market some time in December.

Saudi Arabia may get some help from President Joe Biden though as his energy secretary adviser, Amos Hochstein, has stated that the US will enforce sanctions on Iran on more than 1 m b/d.

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Analys

More from Venezuela and Iran means smaller pie for Saudi

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Production in Venezuela and Iran is on the rise and is set to rise further in the coming months and in 2024. Combined their production could grow by 0.8 m b/d YoY to 2024 (average year to average year). The IEA projected in its latest OMR (Oct-2023) that call-on-OPEC will fall to 28.3 m b/d in 2024, a decline of 0.5 m b/d. This combination would drive implied call-on-Saudi from 10.4 m b/d in 2023 to only 9.1 m b/d in 2024 and as low as 8.6 m b/d in Q1-24 if Saudi Arabia has to do all the heavy lifting alone. Wider core OPEC cooperation may be required.

Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities at SEB
Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities, SEB

The IEA is out in the news today projecting peak oil demand this decade with global demand standing at no more than 102 m b/d towards the end of this decade. If so it would imply a call-on-Non-OPEC of only 66.4 m b/d in 2028 assuming that OPEC in general will demand a market share of 30 m b/d + NGL of 5.6 m b/d. The IEA (Oct-23) projects non-OPEC production to average 68.8 m b/d in 2024. That’s already 2.4 m b/d more than what would be sustainable over time if global oil demand is set to peak later this decade. Oil producers in general cannot have a production growth strategy in a peak oil demand world.

The US has decided to lift sanctions towards Venezuela for six months (18 April) as a measure to tempt it to move towards more democratic processes. And if it does, then the lifting of sanctions could continue after the 6 months. A primary opposition election took place this weekend with lawmaker Maria Corina Machado currently holding 93% of the vote count. Venezuela will next year hold a presidential election but fair play seems unlikely with Maduro in charge. The lifting of sanctions allows Venezuela’s PdV to resume exports to all destinations. Bans on new, foreign investments in the oil and gas sector are also lifted though Russian entities and JV’s are still barred.

Venezuela produced 0.8 m b/d in September and indicates that it can lift production by 0.2 m b/d by year and with more rigs and wells by 0.5 m b/d to 1.3 m b/d in the medium term.

Oil production in Iran has been on a steady rise since its low-point of 2.0 m b/d in 2020. Last year it produced 2.5 m b/d. In September it produced 3.1 m b/d, but Iran’s oil minister says production now is at 3.3 m b/d. Iran’s rising production and exports is not about the US being more lenient in its enforcement of sanctions towards Iran. It is more about Iran finding better ways to circumvent them but even more importantly that China is importing more and more oil from Iran.

Production by Iran and Venezuela is recovering. YoY production from the two could rise by close to 0.8 m b/d in 2024. This will lead to a decline in call-on-Saudi oil. 

Oil production by Iran and Venezuela
Source: SEB graph and asessments, Blbrg data and news

The IEA estimated in its latest OMR report that call-on-OPEC will fall from 28.8 m b/d in 2023 to 28.3 m b/d in 2024. If all OPEC members except Saudi Arabia produces the same amount in 2024 as in 2023, then the need for Saudi Arabia’s oil (call-on-Saudi) will fall from a healthy 10.4 m b/d in 2023 to a still acceptable 9.9 m b/d in 2024. Its normal production is roughly 10 m b/d.

If however production by Iran and Venezuela rise by a combined 0.5 m b/d YoY in 2024, then call-on-Saudi will fall to 9.4 m b/d which is not so good but still manageable. But if Iran’s oil minister is correct when he says that its current production now is at 3.3 m b/d, then it is not far fetched to assume that Iran’s oil production may average maybe 3.4-3.5 m b/d in 2024. That would yield a YoY rise of 0.6 m b/d just for Iran. If we also assume that Venezuela manages to lift its production from 0.8 m b/d this year to 1.0 m b/d in 2024, then the combined growth from the two is closer to 0.8 m b/d. That would push call-on-Saudi down to only 9.1 m b/d which is not good at all. It would require Saudi Arabia to produce at its current production of 9.0 m b/d all through 2024.

The IEA further estimates that call-on-OPEC will average 27.7 m b/d in Q1-24. If we assume Iran @ 3.4 m b/d and Venezuela @ 1.0 m b/d then call-on-Saudi in Q1-24 will only be 8.6 m b/d. I.e. Saudi Arabia will have to cut production further to 8.6 m b/d in Q1-24. At that point Saudi Arabia will likely need or like other core OPEC members like Iraq, Kuwait and UAE as well as Russia to join in.

Implied call-on-Saudi. Call-on-OPEC is set to decline from 28.8 m b/d to 28.3 m b/d to 2024. If all OPEC members produced the same in 2024 as in 2023 then call-on-Saudi would fall by 0.5 m b/d to 9.9 m b/d. But if Venezuela and Iran increases their combined production by 0.8 m b/d YoY in 2024 then call-on-Saudi falls to 9.1 m b/d.

Implied call-on-Saudi.
Source: SEB graph and calculations, IEA data

If we look a little broader on this topic and also include Libya, Nigeria and Angola we see that this group of OPEC members produced 11.4 m b/d in 2010, 10.1 m b/d in 2017 and only 5.1 m b/d at the low-point in August 2020. The decline by these OPEC members has of course the other OPEC and OPEC+ members to stem the rising flood of US shale oil production. The production from this unfortunate group of OPEC-laggards is however now on the rise reaching 7.5 m b/d in September. With more from Iran and Venezuela it could rise to 8.0 m b/d in 2024. Production from Nigeria and Angola though still looks to be in gradual decline while Libya looks more sideways. So for the time being it is all about the revival of Iran and Venezuela.

The unfortunate OPEC-laggards had a production of 11.4 m b/d in 2010. But production then fell to only 5.1 m b/d in August 2020. It helped the rest of OPEC’s members to manage the huge increase in US shale oil production. Production from these countries are now on the rebound. Though Nigeria and Angola still seems to be in gradual decline.

Oil production of some OPEC countries
Source: SEB graph, Blbrg data

What everyone needs to be attentive to is that call-on-OPEC and even more importantly call-on-Saudi can only erode to a limit before Saudi/OPEC/Russia will have to take action. Especially if the forecast for needed oil from OPEC/Saudi for the nearest 2-3 years is in significant decline. Then they will have to take action in the sense that they stop defending the price and allows the price to fall sharply along with higher production. And yet again it is US shale oil producers who will have to take the brunt of the pain. They are the only oil producers in the world who can naturally and significantly reduce their production rather quickly. I.e. the US shale oil players will have to be punished into obedience, if possible, yet one more time.

We don’t think that it is any immediate risk for this to happen as US shale oil activity is slowing while global oil demand has rebounded following Covid-lockdowns. But one needs to keep a watch on projections for call-on-OPEC and call-on-Saudi stretching 1-2-3 years forward on a continuous basis. 

In its medium term oil market outlook, Oil2023, the IEA projected a fairly healthy development for call-on-OPEC to 2028. First bottoming out at 29.4 m b/d in 2024 before rising gradually to 30.6 m b/d in 2028. The basis for this was a slowing though steady rise in global oil demand to 105.7 m b/d in 2028 together with stagnant non-OPEC production due to muted capex spending over the past decade. But this projection has already been significantly dented and reduced in IEA’s latest OMR from October where call-on-OPEC for 2024 is projected at only 28.3 m b/d.

In a statement today the IEA projects that global oil demand will peak this decade and consume no more than 102 m b/d in the late 2020ies due to (in large part) rapid growth in EV sales. This would imply a call-on-OPEC of only 26.9 m b/d in 2028. It is not a viable path for OPEC to produce only 26.9 m b/d in 2028. Especially if production by Iran and Venezuela is set to revive. I.e. OPEC’s pie is shrinking while at the same time Iran and Venezuela is producing more. In this outlook something will have to give and it is not OPEC. 

One should here turn this on its head and assume that OPEC will produce 30 m b/d in 2028. Add OPEC NGLs of 5.6 m b/d and we get 35.6 m b/d. If global oil demand in 2028 stands at only 102 m b/d then call-on-Non-OPEC equates to 66.4 m b/d. That is 3.1 m b/d less than IEA’s non-OPEC production projection for 2028 of 69.5 m b/d but also higher than non-OPEC production projection of 68.8 m b/d (IEA, Oct-23) is already 2.4 m b/d too high versus what is a sustainable level.

What this of course naturally means is that oil producers in general cannot have production growth as a strategy in a peak-oil-demand-world with non-OPEC in 2024 already at 2.4 m b/d above its sustainable level.

The US is set to growth its hydrocarbon liquids by 0.5 m b/d YoY in 2024. But in a zero oil demand growth world that is way, way too much.

Call-on-OPEC
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Analys

Reloading the US ’oil-gun’ (SPR) will have to wait until next downturn

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Brent crude traded down 0.4% earlier this morning to USD 91.8/b but is unchanged at USD 92.2/b at the moment. Early softness was probably mostly about general market weakness than anything specific to oil as copper is down 0.7% while European equities are down 0.3%. No one knows the consequences of what a ground invasion of Gaza by Israel may bring except that it will be very, very bad for Palestinians, for Middle East politics for geopolitics and potentially destabilizing for global oil markets. As of yet the oil market seems to struggle with how to price the situation with fairly little risk premium priced in at the moment as far as we can see. Global financial markets however seems to have a clearer bearish take on this. Though rallying US rates and struggling Chinese property market may be part of that.

Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities at SEB
Bjarne Schieldrop, Chief analyst commodities, SEB

The US has drawn down its Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) over the latest years to only 50% of capacity. Crude oil prices would probably have to rally to USD 150-200/b before the US would consider pushing another 100-200 m b from SPR into the commercial market. As such the fire-power of its SPR as a geopolitical oil pricing tool is now somewhat muted. The US would probably happily re-load its SPR but it is very difficult to do so while the global oil market is running a deficit. It will have to wait to the next oil market downturn. But that also implies that the next downturn will likely be fairly short-lived and also fairly shallow. Unless of course the US chooses to forgo the opportunity.  

The US has drawn down its Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to only 50% of capacity over the latest years. Most of the draw-down was in response to the crisis in Ukraine as it was invaded by Russia with loss of oil supply from Russia thereafter.

The US has however no problems with security of supply of crude oil. US refineries have preferences for different kinds of crude slates and as a result it still imports significant volumes of crude of different qualities. But overall it is a net exporter of hydrocarbon liquids. It doesn’t need all that big strategic reserves as a security of supply any more. Following the oil crisis in the early 70ies the OECD countries created the International Energy Agency where all its members aimed to have some 100 days of forward oil import coverage. With US oil production at steady decline since the 70ies the US reached a peak in net imports of 13.4 m b/d in 2006. As such it should have held an SPR of 1340 million barrels. It kept building its SPR which peaked at 727 m b in 2012. But since 2006 its net imports have been in sharp decline and today it has a net export of 2.9 m b/d.

Essentially the US doesn’t need such a sizable SPR any more to secure coverage of its daily consumption. As a result it started to draw down its SPR well before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But then of course it fell fast and is today at 351 m b or about 50% of capacity.

The US is the largest oil consumer in the world. As such it is highly vulnerable to the price level of oil. The US SPR today is much more of a geopolitical tool than a security of supply tool. It’s a tool to intervene in the global oil market. To intervene in the price setting of oil. The US SPR is now drawn down to 50% but it still holds a sizable amount of oil. But it is little in comparison to the firepower of OPEC. Saudi Arabia can lower its production by 1 m b/d for one year and it will have eradicated 365 million barrels in global oil inventories. And then it can the same the year after and then the year after that again.

The US has now fired one big bullet of SPR inventory draws. It really helped to balance the global oil market last year and prevented oil prices from going sky high. With 350 m b left in its SPR it can still do more if needed. But the situation would likely need to be way more critical before the US would consider pushing yet another 100-200 m b of oil from its SPR into the global commercial oil market. An oil price of USD 150-200/b would probably be needed before it would do so.

With new geopolitical realities the US probably will want to rebuild its SPR to higher levels as it is now an important geopolitical tool and an oil price management tool. But rebuilding the SPR now while the global oil market is running a deficit is a no-go as we see it.

An oil market downturn, a global recession, a global oil market surplus where OPEC no longer want to defend the oil price with reduced supply is needed for the US to be able to refill its SPR again unless it wants to drive the oil price significantly higher.

But this also implies that the next oil price downturn will likely be short-lived and shallow as the US will have to use that opportunity to rebuild its SPR. It’s kind off like reloading its geopolitical oil gun. If it instead decides to forgo such an opportunity then it will have to accept that its geopolitical maneuverability in the global oil market stays muted.

Net US oil imports in m b/d and US Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) in million barrels. The US doesn’t need strategic petroleum reserves for the sake of security of supply any more. But it is a great geopolitical energy-tool to intervene in the price setting of oil in the global market place.

Net US oil imports in m b/d and US Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) in million barrels
Source: SEB graph, EIA data from Blbrg
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