Thursday, February 23, 2012

OPEC Not Keeping Up With World Demand -- Goldman Sachs

Someone just sent in a comment that "we" mis-heard Papa's comments on CNBC. As noted, I have not listened to the video yet; not enough time to catch up on everything.

I still stand by my "myth" that Saudi Arabia cannot keep up with demand. Here is a cut and paste from Reuters:
Goldman Sachs said it expects Brent crude prices to rise to $127.50 a barrel over the next 12 months in order to restrain demand growth and keep it in line with available supplies.

"We see the risks to our forecasts as skewed to the upside as world oil inventories have not been building despite Saudi Arabia pumping at its highest levels in 30 years and Libyan supplies returning to the market," analysts at the bank said in a February 22 note.

"This suggests that the increased supplies have been absorbed by the market and leaves the world in the unprecedented situation in which OPEC spare capacity is at a trough rather than at a peak just as the world economic recovery is getting on a more solid footing."
... despite Saudi Arabia pumping at its highest levels in 30 years and Libyan supplies returning to the market. Wow.

By the way, it was recently reported that Saudi's production dropped back a bit in January; it was based on estimates provided by independent sources. I have a hunch what was going on, but will leave that to later.

4 comments:

  1. It's really starting to appear that you are on to something here, Bruce. Good job!!! Dave

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    1. ...but the dollar and change move up in the price of oil today was completely unexpected. I am bullish on oil but this is not good for things in general.

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  2. If the price of gas at the pump surges towards $5 or $6 one good thing will come out of it....a change in the occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania ave., Wash. DC.

    From IL

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    1. I said the same thing to my wife when I was talking about the Keystone XL "killing." No matter how he tries to explain it away (and the Keystone XL has nothing to do with today's price of oil, I know) folks will associate the incumbent with the price of oil, especially one who is so anti-Big Oil (and probably anti-small oil -- I know the president gave a "cold shoulder" to Mr Harold Hamm when they met in person some months ago).

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