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SHB Råvarubrevet 15 februari 2013

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Handelsbanken - Råvarubrevet - Nyhetsbrev om råvaror

Handelsbanken - Råvarubrevet inklusive ädelmetallerIntressant vecka trots kinesisk nyårsledighet!

Vi hade väntat oss en lugn vecka på råvarumarknaden när kineserna hade ledigt efter söndagens nyårsfest. Volymerna har visserligen varit lägre men det har ändå varit intressanta rörelser. Guld bröt ner genom sitt starka tekniska motstånd på 1545 och vi skickade idag ut en handels ide där vi tycker att man ska sälja guld med 1550 som mål. Att sälja guld nu är logiskt med vår tro på en starkare konjunktur och en utbredd ”risk on” mentalitet på marknaderna. Vi sätter också större tilltro till de tekniska signalerna för guld än för övriga råvaror då guld har mindre fasta kopplingar till den fundamentala bilden. Vår tro på starkare oljepris håller i sig och under veckan har Brent åter varit uppe över 119 USD. Inte mycket nytt kom ut från Iranmötet i tisdags utan sanktionerna mot Irans oljeexport till USA och EU ligger kvar. Inga nya möten är planerade.

Aluminium nådde ett nytt friskt månadshögsta under veckan på 2166.5 och basmetallerna ser starka ut trots kinesernas frånvaro. Nu krävs att kinas metallhandlare fortsätter köpvågen när de återvänder till handlarborden på måndag.

Handelsbankens råvaruindex inkl graf

Basmetallerna

Metaller i fokus

Vårt basmetallindex ligger kvar oförändrat under en förhållandevis lugn vecka och Kinesiskt nyår. Aluminium noteras på månadshögsta samtidigt som ett antal aktörer minskat ned sina contango-positioner, dvs lagrat och finansierat Aluminium och sen låst in en ca 5 procent i årlig avkastning genom att rulla terminerna. Eftersom det är så lugnt på basmetaller kan vi passa på att berätta om en positiv utveckling på den finansiella järnmalmsmarknaden där omsättningen fortsätter att öka. 100 miljoner ton omsattes 2012 (ca 1/10 av den fysiskt handlade) och vi ser ett ökande intresse från investerare. Positivt även för finansiella skrotkontrakt men för färdiga stål är det egentligen bara SHFE som lyckats med sitt Rebar kontrakt, övriga och däribland LME har svårt att attrahera industrins intresse.

Vi tror på fortsatt styrka i konjunkturen och att högre priser kommer nås under slutet av februari. Denna bild har bekräftats av makrodata och fått investerare att allokera om sina portföljer från defensiva positioner till mer konjunkturdrivna råvaror som olja och basmetaller. Basmetaller är ett enkelt sätt att exponera sig mot den ekonomiska utvecklingen i Kina (se Kinas PMI och SHB Basmetaller nedan). En annan intressant bild (se nedan) är den mellan SHB Basmetaller och S&P 500 där vi förväntar oss att gapet kommer ihop på sikt.

SHB Basmetaller mot Kina PMI och S&P 500

Den globala tillväxten har fått ny kraft och gynnar konjunkturkänsliga råvaror som basmetaller. Vi tror på: BASMET H

Ädelmetaller

Sälj guld på bättre konjunktur

Guld har 12 år med stigande pris i ryggen och blivit råvaran som inte kan gå ner. Under 2012 nådde guld sin högsta nivå 1794 USD/oz under oktober när QE3 yran var som värst. Därefter har guldet hamnat i en fallande trend. Många analytiker räknade med att debaclet kring USA:s skuldtak skulle ge priset stöd under början av året. Så har inte varit fallet och vi ser nu flera skäl till att guldet kommer fortsätta falla nedåt. Sedan de första positiva signalerna kom från Kina i september har bilden av en allt bättre global konjunktur börjat sprida sig. Denna bild har bekräftats av makrodata och fått investerare att allokera om sina portföljer från defensiva positioner till en mer risksökande inriktning. I denna omallokering ingår att lämna guld för ”risk on” tillgångar som aktier och andra mer konjunkturdrivna råvaror som olja och basmetaller. Dessa flöden tro vi kommer fortsätta under våren när finansmarknaden dansar till allt gladare toner från bättre konjunkturdata.

Under senaste veckorna har olja handlats upp samtidigt som guld handlats ner. Det är en klassisk indikator på att en ljusare framtid är här. Tekniskt står guld nu på ett mycket viktigt stöd och fallhöjden är ner till 1530 om guld bryter under 1645. Uppåt tycker vi att en stopp på 1705 är att rekommendera.

Analys på guldpris och silverpris (spot) den 15 februari

Med fortsatt positivt risksentiment och potentiellt stigande räntenivåer ser vi nästa stora rörelse kommer att vara nedåt. Vi tror på GULD S H

Energi

Starkt sentiment på oljan

Fundamentalt inga större förändringar på oljemarknaden men en ökad oro för att planlagda underhåll på amerikanska raffinader kommer att förvärra lagersituationen på bensin ytterligare i kombination med positiva sysselsättningssiffror ger stöd. Vi är fortsatt positiva till oljan där en rad faktorer som global tillväxt och risk för produktionsbortfall men framför allt en ökad riskaptit som ser ut att tillfälligt kunna driva brentoljan en bit över 120 dollar. En osäker faktor på lite längre sikt är skifferoljan (se bifogad bilaga) där produktionen överträffat alla prognoser framför allt i USA vilket naturligtvis är kopplat till USAs mål om att vara självförsörjande på energi framöver. Utvinningen är dock omstridd och det finns all anledning att tro att miljöfrågorna kommer att hamna mer i fokus.

Elen handlas oförändrat över veckan där fokus varit på utsläppsmarknaden och miljöutskottets möte i veckan som kommer. Sannolikt att vi får någon form av backdrop, dvs förskjuten tilldelning mot slutet av fasen, av de ca 900 miljoner ton som diskuteras men svårt att säga vad det innebär konkret förens parlamentet godkänner förslaget. Det talas om nivåer på uppemot 15 euro per ton vilket skulle innebära ca 7 öre extra på elpriset från dagens nivåer men vår gissning är att de fortsätter att stiga något till fram till mötet för att sedan successivt börja falla tillbaka på vinsthemtagning och osäkerhet om nästa fas och liggar kvar på nivåer strax över 5 euro.

Prisutveckling för utsläppsrätter och brent på ICE

Den råvarugrupp som är mest beroende av den globala konjunkturen är Energi och med en starkare konjunktur ser vi positivt på utvecklingen för denna sektor. Vi tror på: ENERGI H

Livsmedel

Oron långt ifrån över för Vetet

Terminspriserna på vete noteras ned sedan förra veckan i både Chicago och Paris. Nedgången har delvis påverkats av fortsatta skurar på det amerikanska höstvetet, dock har det ännu inte fallit några större mängder för att göra märkbar skillnad och oron är långt ifrån över. Nästa vecka ser det dessutom ut att bli torrt med endast väldigt små regnmängder, inte alls idealiskt för grödorna. Trots nedgång för veckan som helhet stiger priserna under fredagen, delvis som följd av amerikanska exportsiffror som rapporterats in på högre nivå än väntat – vilka i sin tur påverkas av att de amerikanska vetepriserna nu handlas på lägsta nivå på över sju månader.

I EU bedöms allt fortfarande vara helt ok. Enligt franska officiella siffror är landets höstveteareal upp cirka tre procent från förra årets. I en del områden i Europa har snön regnat bort men temperaturen är relativt hög och ser ut att förbli så framöver. I Ukraina har det blivit lite kallare igen men generellt sett är snötäcket tillräckligt tjockt för att skydda grödorna. I Ryssland bedöms läget generellt sett också vara ok, lite kallare i de norra och centrala delarna men gott om snö och i söder något för torrt men utan större oro. Höstvetet i USA är i riktigt dåligt skick och nederbörden ser ut att bli väldigt begränsad under kommande vecka. I andra veteregioner i världen råder dock inga större problem vilket ger viss press nedåt på priserna. Än finns det dessutom tid för regn att falla inför sådd av majs i USA – vilket spannmålsmarknaden lägger stort fokus på för tillfället. Vetet handlas nu på de lägsta nivåerna sedan juni/juli 2012, givet inga större väderproblem (vilket vi dock blivit ganska vana vid) bör vi kunna vänta oss fortsatt lägre priser lite längre fram på året.

Prisutveckling för vete på Matif för mars 2013-terminen

Socker

Sockerpris på nivåer som närmar sig produktionskostnaden, produktions fall i Thailand och ökad efterfrågan på etanol får oss att tro på BULL SOCKER H

Handelsbankens Råvaruindex

Handelsbankens råvaruindex 15 februari 2013

Handelsbankens råvaruindex består av de underliggande indexen för respektive råvara. Vikterna är bestämda till hälften från värdet av global produktion och till hälften från likviditeten i terminskontrakten.

[box]SHB Råvarubrevet är producerat av Handelsbanken och publiceras i samarbete och med tillstånd på Råvarumarknaden.se[/box]

Ansvarsbegränsning

Detta material är producerat av Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) i fortsättningen kallad Handelsbanken. De som arbetar med innehållet är inte analytiker och materialet är inte oberoende investeringsanalys. Innehållet är uteslutande avsett för kunder i Sverige. Syftet är att ge en allmän information till Handelsbankens kunder och utgör inte ett personligt investeringsråd eller en personlig rekommendation. Informationen ska inte ensamt utgöra underlag för investeringsbeslut. Kunder bör inhämta råd från sina rådgivare och basera sina investeringsbeslut utifrån egen erfarenhet.

Informationen i materialet kan ändras och också avvika från de åsikter som uttrycks i oberoende investeringsanalyser från Handelsbanken. Informationen grundar sig på allmänt tillgänglig information och är hämtad från källor som bedöms som tillförlitliga, men riktigheten kan inte garanteras och informationen kan vara ofullständig eller nedkortad. Ingen del av förslaget får reproduceras eller distribueras till någon annan person utan att Handelsbanken dessförinnan lämnat sitt skriftliga medgivande. Handelsbanken ansvarar inte för att materialet används på ett sätt som strider mot förbudet mot vidarebefordran eller offentliggörs i strid med bankens regler.

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Analys

The ”normal” oil price is USD 97/b

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

The Dated Brent crude oil price ydy closed at USD 96/b. Wow, that’s a high price! This sensation however depends on what you think is ”normal”. And normal in the eyes of most market participants today is USD 60/b. But this perception is probably largely based on the recent experience of the market. The average Brent crude oil price from 2015-2019 was USD 58.5/b. But that was a period of booming non-OPEC supply, mostly shale oil. But booming shale oil supply is now increasingly coming towards an end. Looking more broadly at the last 20 years the nominal average price was USD 75/b. But in inflation adjusted terms it was actually USD 97/b.

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

Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, yesterday stated that its production cuts was not about driving the price up but instead it was preemptive versus the highly uncertain global economic development. In that respect it has a very good point. The US 2yr government bond rate has rallied to 5.06% which is the highest since 2006 and just a fraction away of being the highest since December 2000. The Chinese property market is struggling and global PMIs have been downhill since mid-2021 with many countries now at contractive, sub-50 level. Thus a deep concern for the health of the global economy and thus oil demand going forward is absolutely warranted. And thus the preemptive production cuts by Saudi Arabia. But killing the global economy off while it is wobbling with an oil price of USD 110-120/b or higher is of course not a smart thing to do either.

At the same conference in Canada yesterday the CEO of Aramco, Amin H. Nasser, said that he expected global oil demand to reach 110 m b/d in 2030 and that talk about a near term peak in global oil demand was ”driven by policies, rather than the proven combination of markets, competitive economics and technology” (Reuters).

With a demand outlook of 110 m b/d in 2030 the responsible thing to do is of course to make sure that the oil price stays at a level where investments are sufficient to cover both decline in existing production as well as future demand growth.

In terms of oil prices we tend to think about recent history and also in nominal terms. Most market participants are still mentally thinking of the oil prices we have experienced during the shale oil boom years from 2015-2019. The average nominal Brent crude price during that period was USD 58.5/b. This is today often perceived as ”the normal price”. But it was a very special period with booming non-OPEC supply whenever the WTI price moved above USD 45/b. But that period is increasingly behind us. While we could enjoy fairly low oil prices during this period it also left the world with a legacy: Subdued capex spending in upstream oil and gas all through these years. Then came the Covid-years which led to yet another trough in capex spending. We are soon talking close to 9 years of subdued capex spending.

If Amin H. Nasser is ballpark correct in his prediction that global oil demand will reach 110 m b/d in 2030 then the world should better get capex spending rolling. There is only one way to make that happen: a higher oil price. If the global economy now runs into an economic setback or recession and OPEC allows the oil price to drop to say USD 50/b, then we’d get yet another couple of years with subdued capex spending on top of the close to 9 years with subdued spending we already have behind us. So in the eyes of Saudi Arabia, Amin H. Nasser and Abdulaziz bin Salman, the responsible thing to do is to make sure that the oil price stays up at a sufficient level to ensure that capex spending stays up even during an economic downturn.

This brings us back to the question of what is a high oil price. We remember the shale oil boom years with an average nominal price of USD 58.5/b. We tend to think of it as the per definition ”normal” price. But we should instead think of it as the price depression period. A low-price period during which non-OPEC production boomed. Also, adjusting it for inflation, the real average price during this period was actually USD 72.2/b and not USD 58.5/b. If we however zoom out a little and look at the last 20 years then we get a nominal average of USD 75/b. The real, average inflation adjusted price over the past 20 years is however USD 97/b. The Dated Brent crude oil price yesterday closed at USD 96/b.

Worth noting however is that for such inflation adjustment to make sense then the assumed cost of production should actually rise along with inflation and as such create a ”rising floor price” to oil based on rising real costs. If costs in real terms instead are falling due to productivity improvements, then such inflation adjusted prices will have limited bearing for future prices. What matters more specifically is the development of real production costs for non-OPEC producers and the possibility to ramp up such production. Environmental politics in OECD countries is of course a clear limiting factor for non-OPEC oil production growth and possibly a much more important factor than the production cost it self.  

But one last note on the fact that Saudi Arabia’s energy minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, is emphasizing that the cuts are preemptive rather then an effort to drive the oil price to the sky while Amin H. Nasser is emphasizing that we need to be responsible. It means that if it turns out that the current cuts have indeed made the global oil market too tight with an oil price spiraling towards USD 110-120/b then we’ll highly likely see added supply from Saudi Arabia in November and December rather than Saudi sticking to 9.0 m b/d. This limits the risk for a continued unchecked price rally to such levels.

Oil price perspectives. We tend to think that the nominal average Brent crude oil price of USD 58.5/b during the shale oil boom years from 2015-19 is per definition the ”normal” price. But that period is now increasingly behind us. Zoom out a little to the real, average, inflation adjusted price of the past 20 years and we get USD 97/b. In mathematical terms it is much more ”normal” than the nominal price during the shale oil boom years 

The new normal oil price
Source: SEB graph and calculations, Bloomberg data feed.

Is global oil demand about to peak 1: OECD and non-OECD share of global population

OECD and non-OECD share of global population
Source: SEB graph and calculations, UN population data

Is global oil demand about to peak 2: Oil demand per capita per year

Oil demand per capita per year
Source: SEB graph and calculations, BP oil data
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Analys

USD 100/b in sight but oil product demand may start to hurt

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

Some crude oil grades have already traded above USD 100/b. Tapis last week at USD 101.3/b. Dated Brent is trading at USD 95.1/b. No more than some market noise is needed to drive it above USD 100/b. But a perceived and implied oil market deficit of 1.5 to 2.5 m b/d may be closer to balance than a deficit. And if so the reason is probably that oil product demand is hurting. Refineries are running hard. They are craving for crude and converting it to oil products. Crude stocks in US, EU16 and Japan fell 23 m b in August as a result of this and amid continued restraint production by Saudi/Russia. But oil product stocks rose 20.3 m b with net draws in crude and products of only 2.7 m b for these regions. Thus indicating more of a balanced market than a deficit. Naturally there has been strong support for crude prices while oil product refinery margins have started to come off. Saudi/Russia is in solid control of the market. Both crude and product stocks are low while the market is either in deficit or at best in balance. So there should be limited down side price risk. But oil product demand is likely to hurt more if Brent crude rises to USD 110-120/b and such a price level looks excessive.

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

Crude oil prices have been on a relentless rise since late June when it became clear that Saudi Arabia would keep its production at 9 m b/d not just in July but also in August. Then later extended to September and then lately to the end of the year. On paper this has placed the market into a solid deficit. Total OPEC production was 27.8 m b/d in August and likely more or less the same in September. OPEC estimates that the need for oil from OPEC in Q3-23 is 29.2 m b/d which places the global market in a 1.4 m b/d deficit when OPEC produces 27.8 m b/d.

The proof of the pudding is of course that inventories actually draws down when there is a deficit. A 1.4 m b/d of deficit for 31 days in August implies a global inventory draw of 43.4 m b/d. If we assume that OECD countries accounts for 46% of global oil demand then OECD could/should have had a fair share of inventory rise of say 20 m b in August. Actual inventory data are however usually a lagging set of data so we have to work with sub sets of data being released on a higher frequency. And non-OECD demand and inventory data are hard to come by.

If we look at oil inventory data for US, EU16 and Japan we see that crude stocks fell 23 m b in August while product stocks rose 20.3 m b with a total crude and product draw of only 2.7 m b. I.e. indicating close to a balanced market in August rather than a big deficit. But it matters that crude stocks fell 23 m b. That is a tight crude market where refineries are craving and bidding for crude oil together with speculators who are buying paper-oil. So refineries worked hard to buy crude oil and converting it to oil products in August. But these additional oil products weren’t gobbled up by consumers but instead went into inventories.

Rising oil product inventories is of course  a good thing since these inventories in general are low. And also oil product stocks are low. The point is more that the world did maybe not run a large supply/demand deficit of 1.5 to 2.5 m b/d in August but rather had a more balanced market. A weaker oil product demand than anticipated would then likely be the natural explanation for this. Strong refinery demand for crude oil, crude oil inventory draws amid a situation where crude inventories already are low is of course creating an added sense of bullishness for crude oil.

On the one hand strong refinery demand for crude oil has helped to drive crude oil prices higher amid continued production cuts by Saudi Arabia. Rising oil product stocks have on the other hand eased the pressure on oil products and thus softened the oil product refinery margins.

The overall situation is that Saudi Arabia together with Russia are in solid control of the oil market. Further that the global market is either balanced or in deficit and that both crude and product stocks are still low. Thus we have a tight market both in terms of supplies and inventories. So there should be limited downside in oil prices. We are highly likely to see Dated Brent moving above USD 100/b. It is now less than USD 5/b away from that level and only noise is needed to bring it above. Tupis crude oil in Asia traded at USD 101.3/b last week. So some crude benchmarks are already above the USD 100/b mark.

While Dated Brent looks set to hit USD 100/b in not too long we are skeptical with respect to further price rises to USD 110-120/b as oil product demand likely increasingly would start to hurt. Unless of course if we get some serious supply disruptions. But Saudi Arabia now has several million barrels per day of reserve capacity as it today only produces 9.0 m b/d. Thus disruptions can be countered. Oil product demand, oil product cracks and oil product inventories is a good thing to watch going forward. An oil price of USD 85-95/b is probably much better than USD 110-120/b for a world where economic activity is likely set to slow rather than accelerate following large interest rate hikes over the past 12-18 months.

OPEC’s implied call-on-OPEC crude oil. If OPEC’s production stays at 27.8 m b/d throughout Q3-23 and Q4-23 then OPECs numbers further strong inventory draws to the end of the year.

OPEC's implied call-on-OPEC crude oil.
Source: SEB graph and calculations. Call-on-OPEC as calculated by OPEC in its Sep report.

Net long speculative positions in Brent crude and WTI. Speculators have joined the price rally since end of June.

Graph of net long speculative positions in Brent crude and WTI.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, Blbrg data

End of month crude and product stocks in m b in EU16, US and Japan. Solid draw in crude stocks but also solid rise in product stocks. In total very limited inventory draw. Refineries ran hard to convert crude to oil products but these then went straight into inventories alleviating low oil product inventories there.

End of month crude and product stocks
Source: SEB table, Argus data

ARA oil product refinery margins have come off their highs for all products as the oil product situation has eased a bit. Especially so for gasoline with now fading summer driving. But also HFO 3.5% cracks have eased back a little bit. But to be clear, diesel cracks and mid-dist cracks are still exceptionally high. And even gasoline crack down to USD 17.6/b is still very high this time of year.

ARA oil product refinery margins
Source: SEB graph and calculations

ARA diesel cracks in USD/b. Very, very high in 2022. Almost normal in Apr and May. Now very high vs. normal though a little softer than last year.

ARA diesel cracks in USD/b.
Source: SEB graph and calculations, Blbrg data

US crude and product stocks vs. 2015-2019 average. Still very low mid-dist inventories (diesel) and also low crude stocks but not all that low gasoline inventories.

US crude and product stocks vs. 2015-2019 average.
Source: SEB graph and calculations, Blbrg data feed

US crude and product stocks vs. 2015-2019 averages. Mid-dist stocks have stayed persistently low while gasoline stocks suddenly have jumped as gasoline demand seems to have started to hurt due to higher prices.

US crude and product stocks vs. 2015-2019 averages.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, Blbrg data feed.

Total commercial US crude and product stocks in million barrels. Rising lately. If large, global deficit they should have been falling sharply. Might be a blip?

Total commercial US crude and product stocks in million barrels.
Source: SEB graph and calculations, Blbrg data feed, EIA data
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Analys

USD 85/b or USD 110/b is up to Saudi/Russia to decide

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

The market is bewildered and cannot quite figure out whether the latest extension of Saudi Arabia’s unilateral cut to the end of the year is 1) A reflection of weakness to come and an effort to preemptively trying to avoid the oil price from falling below USD 85/b amid coming weakness, or 2) An effort do drive the oil price to USD 100-110/b by the end of the year. If the IEA’s latest calculations for global demand in Q3 and Q4 are correct and Saudi sticks to its cuts then global inventories will indeed decline by 250 million barrels by year end and Brent crude will rally to USD 100-110/b. And Saudi Arabia will get a lot of blame. One thing which is very clear though is that Saudi Arabia together with Russia is in comfortable control of the oil market and we’ll just have to accept the oil price they are aiming for.

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

OPEC produced 27.8 m b/d in August. The IEA in its latest OMR has calculated call-on-OPEC to be 30 m b/d in Q3-23 and 29.8 m b/d in Q4-23. So on paper the global market is running a deficit of 2.2 m b/d or 15.4 m b per week. If so we should see a decline in US oil inventories as they are impacted by the global balance. Maybe on par with US oil demand share of the world being close to 20%. I.e. we should expect to see an inventory decline in the US of at least 3 m b per week. Maybe more. And indeed that is also what we have seen. Ydy the US API released partial US inventory data indicating that US crude inventories declined 5.5 m b last week while gasoline inventories declined 5.1 m b. That is big and a clear signal that the market today is running at a significant deficit. Other signs of a tight market is the elevated level of backwardation in crude and oil product forward curves, rising official selling prices by Saudi and also the fact that Dubai crude is trading at a premium of close to USD 1/b versus Brent crude rather than the usual discount of USD 1-2-3/b.

In this perspective the extension of Saudi Arabia’s unilateral production cut to the end of the year is shocking. If the IEA is correct in its assessments then we would get a global inventory draw of about 250 million barrels from now to the end of the year. And if so the Brent crude oil price would indeed move to USD 100 – 110/b by the end of the year. Speculators can then doubt the market as much as they want. But such a physical deficit would most definitely drive the price up, up, up.

This deliberate action of driving the oil price to USD 100 – 110/b can then squarely be blamed on Saudi Arabia’s unilateral production cuts. Together with Russian export curbs of 0.3 m b/d of course. Everyone can accept that the oil price rallies to USD 100/b and higher due to unforeseen events. But here we are talking about deliberate action of driving the oil price higher in the face of a western world fighting hard to curb inflation while the Biden administration is also preparing for a re-election in 2024. Gasoline prices higher and higher. Hm, that is not at all what the US consumers wants, what Biden wants or what the Fed wants. So the latest action from Saudi Arabia, if it drives the oil price to USD 100/b or higher must indeed lead to political heat from the US.

But there is a possible excuse. We know that interest rates have been lifted rapidly over the past 12-18 months and that this is leading to global economic cooling for the year to come. Add China’s struggling housing market to this. Western consumers are buying less stuff from China. Chinese consumers are buying less stuff because they fear the economic situation. Chinese exports are down 8.8% YoY and imports are down 7.3% YoY.

Saudi Arabia has one of the biggest physical oil books in the world. As such it can see the cards of its oil purchasing clients on a 1-2-3 months forward basis. It can see what they are booking and ordering for the coming 1-2-3 months. IEA’s calculations is the global balance on paper. It is a static snapshot. But the world is dynamic and changing all the time. So it is possible that the extension of Saudi Arabia’s unilateral cut is a counter to weakness to come and an effort to avoid the oil price from falling below USD 85/b rather than an effort to drive the oil price to USD 100/b or higher. It is impossible to know for sure. What we can be pretty confident about however is that Saudi Arabia together with Russia are comfortably running the show.

Another twist here is also that even if Saudi Arabia now has pledged to keep its production at 9 m b/d (vs. normal 10 m b/d) to end of December, it always has the option to change the course in October and November. I.e. if it turns out that the cuts are too deep and the market is overly short oil, then it can lift production November and December if need be.

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