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Europe’s energy policy unravels a potential advantage for US energy over Europe

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WisdomTree
WidsomTree

The clock is ticking for Europe to shield its economy amidst the current energy crisis. The cost of electricity across the European bloc is nearly 10 times the 10-year average in response to Russia cutting back natural gas supplies in retaliation to sanctions. There has been a substantial increase in the share of supply of Liquidifies Natural Gas (LNG) and alternative suppliers as a direct replacement of waning Russian gas supply.

Figure 1: Natural gas flows in the European market, first half 2022 versus first half 2021

Karta hur importen av naturgas till Europa har förändrats
Source: Bruegel, WisdomTree as of 6 September 2022. Please note: Arrows width indicates size of 2022 flow.

European leaders are racing to come up with a plan on energy intervention in the power markets. One of the measures being touted is imposing an energy windfall tax on oil and gas profits to help households and businesses survive this upcoming winter season. The plan is to re-channel these unexpected profits from the energy sector to help domestic consumers and companies pay these high bills. The windfall tax on the oil and gas companies should be treated as a “solidarity contribution,” according to European Commission (EC) President, Ursula von der Leyen.

Imposing a windfall tax on those profiting from the war

A windfall tax would impose a levy on the revenues generated by non-gas producing companies when market prices exceed €200 per megawatt hour (Mwh) and redistribute excess revenues to vulnerable companies and households. There has been greater consensus among other European Union (EU) countries on the windfall tax compared to other parts of the European Commission’s 5-point plan. This includes – setting a price cap on Russian gas, a mandatory reduction in peak electricity demand, funding for ailing utility companies, a windfall tax on fossil fuel companies and changes to collateral requirements for electricity companies. The EC’s plan will need to meet the approval of the bloc before being enforced. The most controversial issue remains the Russian price cap – aimed at penalising Russia for weaponising energy.

Coordinated energy policy needed despite different energy mix across EU bloc

There are major differences between member states based on those that rely on coal, nuclear or renewable power owing to which imposing a one energy policy will be challenging. Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia, known to import large amounts of Russian gas are against the price cap on Russian gas. On the other hand, a number of  EU countries including France, Italy, and Poland, support a cap, but argue it should apply to all imported forms of the fuel, including LNG. Germany is undecided but fears the disagreements on the price caps risk spoiling EU unity. Spain, a big generator of wind and solar power was quick to draw criticism of the proposed €200/Mwh as it does not correspond to the real costs and fails to support electrification and the deployment of renewables.

In the US, various Senators including Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden, have proposed legislation that would double the tax rate of large oil and gas companies excess profits. However, given the current political climate it seems increasingly unlikely that these proposals would gain any traction in Congress.

Europe’s energy policy likely to put a strain on capex in the near term

Since the oil price plunge from 2014 to 2016 alongside climate change awareness and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) mandates, the energy sector saw a sharp decline in capital expenditure (capex). Since then, capex in the global energy sector has failed to attain the levels last seen at the peak in 2014. While capex trends in Europe’s energy sector had begun to outpace that of the US, driven mainly by a rise in the share of spending on clean energy, we believe the impending energy crisis and energy policy including the national windfall levies in Europe are likely to disincentivise capex in Europe compared to the US over the medium term. High prices are encouraging several countries to step up fossil fuel investment, as they seek to secure and diversify their sources of supply.

Source: Bloomberg, WisdomTree as of 31 August 2022.

The divergent energy policies and prevalent supply situations in the US and Europe opens up a potential opportunity in the energy sector. The energy sector has been the unique bright spot in global equity markets in 2022 posting the strongest earnings results in H1 2022. Despite its strong price performance, the US energy sector trades at a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 8x and has a dividend yield of 3%. In September 2008, the energy sector had a 12.5% weight in the S&P 500 and was the fourth largest sector by market capitalisation in the world’s largest economy and equity market. Fast forward to today, the energy sector accounts for only 4% of the S&P 500 Index. While the future trajectory is greener, the world has come to terms with the fact that we will require oil and gas in the interim in order to fulfil our energy requirements. Investment is increasing in all parts of the energy sector, but the main boost in recent years has come from the power sector – mainly in renewables and grids – and from increased spending on end-use efficiency. As Europe plans to reduce its reliance on Russian energy supply, it will become more reliant on US LNG imports. This should fuel further investment in the US energy sector in the interim.

Aneeka Gupta, Director, Macroeconomic Research, WisdomTree

Analys

Crude oil comment: A little sideways with new tests towards the 80-line likely

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

Brent moves into sideways trading around USD 81.5/b with new tests to the 80-line likely. Brent crude traded down 0.9% yesterday to a close of USD 81.29/b and traded as low as USD 80.39/b within the day. This morning it is gaining 0.3% to USD 81.6/b. No obvious major driver for that and the move in oil is well in line with higher industrial metals this morning. The technical picture for Brent 1M is still overbought in terms of RSI at 70.2. But as Brent now has traded a bit sideways for some days the overbought bearish calculus has started to ease a bit. But new tests towards the 80-line seems likely with current RSI at 70.2.

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

Scott Bessent says he fully supports harder sanctions on Russian oil exports if Donald Trump wishes to use such a tool in the coming negotiations with Russia over Ukraine. That may add some support to oil this morning. The latest US sanctions towards Russia clearly have an effect with one example being the tanker Bhilva which has made a U-turn back towards Russia after having been on course to India (Bloomberg).

US EIA projects US liquids growth of 538 kb/d/y in 2025. The US EIA released its monthly STEO report earlier this week. What is clear is that the boom-years in US oil production are behind us for now. But exactly pinning down at what level US oil production will grow in 2025 is hard. The EIA forecast for US hydrocarbon liquids looks the following:

Oil data

Estimated US crude oil production growth is projected to be virtually zero in 2026. But including all sources of liquids it still sums up to 312 kb/d y/y in growth. A lot or a little? If global oil demand in 2026 only grows with 1 mb/d in 2026, then the US will cover 30% of global demand growth. That is a lot. For 2025 the EIA expects a total growth in US liquids of 538 kb/d y/y. 

Smaller losses in existing shale oil production. If we instead look at EIA estimates for US shale oil production right here and now and how its components are changing, we see that 1) New monthly production is 666 kb/d, 2) Losses in existing production is 622 kb/d and thus 3) Net monthly growth is 44 kb/d m/m which equals 4) A net marginal annualized growth of 12*44 of 523 kb/d/y. What stands out here is that the EIA in its December report estimated that this marginal annualization only equated to 378 kb/d/y. So, it has been lifted markedly in the latest report. It is however on a downward trajectory and as such the EIA estimate in the table above of y/y growth for US crude oil of 331 kb/d/y may be sensible.

US shale oil new production, losses in existing production, net new production and marginal, annualized production growth in kb/d/y.

US shale oil new production, losses in existing production, net new production and marginal, annualized production growth in kb/d/y.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, EIA data

Change in EIA STEO forecast from Dec-24 to Jan-25. What stands out is that estimated losses in existing production is adjusted lower by 16.8 kb/d since November. That is the marginal monthly change. In other words, production in existing production is falling less agressively than estimated in December. But a monthly decline of 622 kb/d/m is of course still massive.

Change in EIA STEO forecast from Dec-24 to Jan-25.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, EIA data
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Analys

Crude oil comment: The rally has legs, but it takes time to wash out ingrained bearish sentiment from H2-24

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

Brent crude jumped jet another 2.7%. Brent crude jumped 2.7% yesterday to USD 82.03/b following a pull-back on Tuesday. Intraday it reached USD 82.63/b and its highest level since 26 July last year. Bullish US oil inventory data was a key reason for the jump higher yesterday coming on top of a steady tightening market since early December and fresh US sanctions on Russia last week.

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

US crude stocks down 17.6 mb since mid-November and total US commercial stocks down 65 mb since mid-July. US crude stocks fell 2 mb last week to its lowest level since April 2022. US crude stocks have declined every week since mid-November with a total of 17.6 mb. Total US commercial oil inventories fell 3.4 mb last week and have been in steady decline of close to 300 kb/d since early July. These declines in US oil stocks are the proof of the pudding in terms of the balance of the global oil market and explains well the rising oil prices since early December.

The IEA estimates a 400 kb/d deficit in H2-24. If so, then all global draws took place in the US. The IEA released its monthly Oil Market Report (OMR) yesterday with an estimate that the global oil market ran a deficit of about 400 kb/d through H2-24. If so, then close to all inventory draws in the whole world solely took place in US inventories which drew down by around 300 kb/d. That is hard to believe.

If we assume that US inventory draws were proportional to the US demand share of the world (about 20%), then global inventory draws in H2-24 probably was closer to 0.3/20% which equals 1.5 mb/d. Maybe a bit high but estimates by FGE indicates that global inventory draws were close to 1.0 mb/d in H2-24 depending on whether you equate on apparent demand or real demand. Higher if equated on real demand.

IEA surplus in 2025 is adjusted down by 200 kb/d. In reality it is now only a surplus of 400 kb/d. We think this surplus estimate will erode further as demand will be adjusted yet higher and supply will be adjusted yet lower going forward. The IEA adjusted 2024 demand higher by 100 kb/d with base effect to 2025 with the same. It also adjusted its non-OPEC production estimate for 2025 down by 100 kb/d. The effect was that call-on-OPEC rose by 200 kb/d for 2025. The IEA still estimates that OPEC must reduce its production by 0.6 mb/d in 2025 to keep market balanced and prices steady. But within that estimate it assumes that FSU increases production by 200 kb/d as if it is not a part of OPEC+. IEA estimate for call-on-OPEC+ thus only declines by 400 kb/d y/y in 2025. We think that this surplus will evaporate as: 1) US production will likely deliver a bit lower than expected. 2) Supply will also disappoint here and there around the world. 3) Global demand estimates will be revised higher for 2024 and 2025.

The rally thus has legs, but the technical picture is still in overbought territory so there will be some pullbacks on the way higher. Unless of course we rally all the way to USD 95/b and THEN we get the technical pullback. The market still seems to have bearish skepticism deeply ingrained in its back following H2-24 doom and gloom and is partially reluctant to trade higher. But that is attitude and not fundamentals.

The Dubai 1-3 mth time-spread is going through the roof as Asian buyers scrambles for supply from the Middle East.

The Dubai 1-3 mth time-spread is going through the roof as Asian buyers scrambles for supply from the Middle East.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, Bloomberg data

The average 1-3 mth time-spread of Dubai, Brent and WTI is now way up. Lots of room for Brent 1M to move USD 90-95/b

The average 1-3 mth time-spread of Dubai, Brent and WTI is now way up. Lots of room for Brent 1M to move USD 90-95/b
Source: Source: SEB calculations and graph, Bloomberg data

US crude stocks declined by 2 mb last week and total commercial stocks by 3.4 mb.

US crude stocks declined by 2 mb last week and total commercial stocks by 3.4 mb.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, Bloomberg data feed, US EIA

US commercial crude and product stocks in steady decline since June/July last year. Down 65 mb since mid-July.

US commercial crude and product stocks in steady decline since June/July last year. Down 65 mb since mid-July.
Source: SEB calculations and graph, Bloomberg data feed, US EIA

US crude stocks at lowest level since 2022.

US crude stocks at lowest level since 2022.
Source: Bloomberg graph and data. SEB highlight

Brent 1M still overbought with RSI at 72.5. So, pullbacks will happen but from what level. On the upside the next targets are probably USD 87.95/b and USD 92.18/b.

Brent 1M still overbought with RSI at 72.5. So, pullbacks will happen but from what level. On the upside the next targets are probably USD 87.95/b and USD 92.18/b.
Source: SEB highlights, Bloomberg graph
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Analys

Crude oil comment: Fundamentally very tight, but technically overbought

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SEB - analysbrev på råvaror

Technical pullback this morning even as the dollar weakens. Brent crude gained another 1.6% yesterday with a close at USD 81.01/b and an intraday high of USD 81.68/b which was the highest level since mid-August. The gain yesterday was supported by strong, further gains in the 1-3 mth time-spreads. This morning Brent is pulling back 0.6% to USD 80.5/b even though the USD is weakening 0.4% while time-spreads are strengthening even further. This makes it look like a technical pullback.

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

Brent is trading very weak versus current time-spreads. The current price of Brent crude at USD 80.6/b is very low versus where the 1-3 mth time spreads are trading. Brent should typically have traded somewhere between USD 80-95/b with current time-spreads when we compare where this relationship has been trading since the start of 2023. Brent is now trading in the absolute lower range of that with lots of room on the upside.

How long will the new sanctions last? Natural questions are: How long will Donald Trump leave the new sanctions operational? How strictly will they be enforced? How easily could Russia circumvent them?

A bullish H1-25 if Donald Trump leaves sanctions intact to negotiate over Ukraine. If Brent continues to trade around USD 80/b and not much higher, then the underlying assumptions must be that the new sanctions will not be enforced harshly and that they will be lifted by Donald Trump within a couple of months max. Donald Trump could however keep them in place as a leverage versus Putin in the upcoming negotiations over Ukraine. If so, they could stay intact for maybe 6 months or more which would put H1-2025 on a very bullish footing.

Fundamentally very tight, but technically overbought. Market right now looks technically overbought with RSI at 72 but also fundamentally very tight with the Dubai 1-3 mth time-spread at USD 2.74/b, its highest level since September 2023. As such the Brent crude oil price has the potential to coil up for further gains following some washing out of technically overbought dynamics. But maybe the current Asian panic over access to medium sour crude oil fades a bit over time and time-spreads ease with it.

Brent has been on a strengthening path well before the new sanctions. Worth remembering though is that Brent crude has been on a rising trend along with tightening time-spreads since early December. The latest bullishness from new US sanctions comes on top of that. Brent moving higher into the 80ies thus seems highly likely following a near term washout of technical overbought dynamics.

1-3 mth time-spread (average of Dubai, Brent and WTI spreads) versus the Brent 1M price. Very strong, bullish signals from the time-spreads, but Brent 1M is trading at the very lower level of where this relationship has been since the start of 2023. So, plenty of room for Brent 1M to move higher.

1-3 mth time-spread (average of Dubai, Brent and WTI spreads) versus the Brent 1M price.
Source: SEB graph and highlights, Bloomberg data feed.

Brent 1M is technically overbought with RSI at 73. Pullbacks are likely near term to wash that out. On the low side the USD 70/b line has given solid support since mid-2023.

Brent 1M is technically overbought with RSI at 73.
Source: Bloomberg graph
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