Good Luck, Saudi Arabia, You’re Going To Need It

Many factors have contributed to Saudi Arabia’s loss of power in global oil markets. Here are a few: Its decision in November 2014 to forgo its historic role of swing producer and actually ramp up production as global oil supplies were becoming saturated is one. Another is the U.S. shale oil revolution that started the whole oil supply glut in the first place. However, the Saudis still had the chance to be masters of their own fate, and they blew it.

Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa (R) attends the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers emergency meeting held in the holy city of Mecca on November 17, 2016. / (Photo /AFP/Getty Images)

In a fever-pitched attempt to protect market share, particularly in Asia and Europe, they kept pumping and pumping, so much that they reached new output levels in July. The Saudis had also hoped to shut out as much U.S. shale oil production as possible, but that also backfired.

U.S. production did indeed drop, but it’s coming back. According to a Goldman Sachs report in September, U.S. shale oil production could increase as much as 700,00 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of next year – effectively wiping out the previous two-plus years of losses. Others, however, see U.S. shale oil coming back at a slower pace.

The results of the decision to pump at all costs and torpedo prices has indeed been cataclysmic for the global oil industry, but also for Saudi Arabia itself, with problems ranging from historically high budgets deficits (nearly $100 billion last year) to being forced to put in place its first ever and politically unpopular austerity measures.

One question to ask: Are things really so bad for the Saudis? Like most questions in life, it depends on who you ask and even when. However, Mohamed Al Tuwaijri, the new Saudi deputy economic minister, said in October in a rare appearance on national television, “if we (Saudi Arabia) didn’t take any reform measures, and if the global economy stays the same, then we’re doomed for bankruptcy in three to four years.”

Saudi finance minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf, in position since 1996, for his part defended previous government policies. Apparently, it wasn’t enough. Al-Assaf was sacked by the royal family a few weeks later. Analysts say he was replaced in favor of a younger generation of technocrats.

Stopping the pain

In September, the kingdom sought to stop the bleeding, but it wasn’t enough. That month a Saudi-led OPEC agreement was reached on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers to consider a 1% oil production cut, to a range of 32.5-33.0 million bpd at its upcoming November 30 meeting in Vienna. They also claimed that they would bring together both OPEC and non-OPEC members as part of this effort.

Also in September as Saudi Arabia was talking a good game of oil production cuts with the usual -but temporary- market knee-jerk reaction that saw prices climb, it was also exporting more oil. The Saudis increased their crude oil exports to 7.812 million bpd in September from 7.305 million bpd in August, according to the kingdom’s own figures.

Complicating matters, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that global oil supply in October increased 800,000 bpd to 97.8 million bpd, while OPEC pumped 33.8 million bpd for the month, far above OPEC’s stated November goal.

Moreover, there are so many wild cards at play in OPEC’s oil production cut goals that it’s anybody’s guess right now if the group will be able to pull off even a marginal 1% cut.

Granted, Iran and Iraq have been making statements that indicate they could come around, but Iran has already played spoiler this year and is still around 800,000 bpd off its pre-sanction output levels.

Oil markets analyst, journalist and author based in Southeast Asia

Continued from page 1

Stopping the pain

In September, the kingdom sought to stop the bleeding, but it wasn’t enough. That month a Saudi-led OPEC agreement was reached on the sidelines of an energy conference in Algiers to consider a 1% oil production cut, to a range of 32.5-33.0 million bpd at its upcoming November 30 meeting in Vienna. They also claimed that they would bring together both OPEC and non-OPEC members as part of this effort.

Also in September as Saudi Arabia was talking a good game of oil production cuts with the usual -but temporary- market knee-jerk reaction that saw prices climb, it was also exporting more oil. The Saudis increased their crude oil exports to 7.812 million bpd in September from 7.305 million bpd in August, according to the kingdom’s own figures.

Complicating matters, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says that global oil supply in October increased 800,000 bpd to 97.8 million bpd, while OPEC pumped 33.8 million bpd for the month, far above OPEC’s stated November goal.

Moreover, there are so many wild cards at play in OPEC’s oil production cut goals that it’s anybody’s guess right now if the group will be able to pull off even a marginal 1% cut.

Granted, Iran and Iraq have been making statements that indicate they could come around, but Iran has already played spoiler this year and is still around 800,000 bpd off its pre-sanction output levels.

Recommended by Forbes

No Saudi Oil Says Trump; Saudi Arabia Fires Back
Saudi Oil Chief Whose Words Moved Markets Releases Memoir
As Saudi Economy Slides, Five Banks Stand Firm
China’s Thirst For Oil Sends Beijing Scrambling For Answers

MOST POPULAR

Photos: The Richest Person In Every State
Exclusive Interview: How Jared Kushner Won Trump The White House

MOST POPULAR

Photos: 20 Best Black Friday New-Car Deals

MOST POPULAR

Stan Lee Introduces Augmented Reality For His Kids Universe

Iraq, for its part, said late Sunday it will offer three new oil cutting proposals at the upcoming Vienna meeting. On the other hand, last month Iraq also encouraged foreign oil companies operating in the country to ramp up production next year.

However, it’s not all about OPEC production anymore. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Wednesday that U.S. stocks of crude oil jumped 5.3 million barrels last week – even more supply for a market that simply doesn’t need it.

And finally, perhaps the most problematic part of the equation will still be Russia, the world’s largest crude producer. Though Russian President Vladimir Putin has given lip service to the need for a production cut or cap, most of his largest oil companies aren’t on board and have stated that they will continue to ramp up production in 2017.

Russia is already pumping around 11 million bpd, a post-Soviet high.

Other non-OPEC members will also increase oil output. “With production also expected to grow in Brazil, Canada and Kazakhstan, total non-OPEC production will rise 0.5 mb/d next year, compared to a fall of 0.9 mb/d in 2016,” says the IEA, adding “this means that 2017 could be another year of relentless global supply growth similar to 2016.”

The Saudis are keeping their chin up, however, at least in public. On Thursday, the country’s oil minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said he was optimistic about OPEC’s deal to limit oil output and mentioned the lower end of the Algiers meeting’s tentative agreement. He said that oil markets were on the path to becoming balanced, and (reaching a decision) to activate that ceiling of 32.5 million bpd will speed up the recovery and will benefit producers and consumers.

Now, it’s up to OPEC to make good on its word to do something to trim production at its meeting in Vienna this coming week.

Given the multiple variables at play and seemingly insurmountable odds, many however, see little chance that oil markets will be balanced again anytime soon, even if OPEC reaches a deal to cut production marginally. Good luck, OPEC and good luck, Saudi Arabia — you’re going to need it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *