The latest edition of the World Bank s Commodity Markets Outlook was published on January 26, 2016. The next edition will be published tomorrow at 3:00 pm EST! Commodity prices ( pink sheet ) are updated on the third business day of each month (the next update will be posted on May 4, 2016). www.worldbank.org/commodities World Bank, Commodity Markets Outlook, Various Special Focus sections (including, China s and India s role on commodity consumption, the nature of the four oil price plunges, Effects of El Nino on commodity prices, the effect of EMDEs growth slowdown on commodity markets, Iran s role in energy markets). Baffes, J. (2007). Oil spills on other commodities. Resources Policy, 32 (3), 126-134. Baffes, J. (2013). A framework for analyzing the interplay among food, fuels, and biofuels. Global Food Security, 2 (2), 110-116. Baffes, J. and X.L. Etienne (2016). Analyzing food price trends in the context of Engel s Law and the Prebisch-Singer Hypothesis. Oxford Economic Papers, doi:10.1093/oep/gpw011 Baffes, J. and T. Haniotis (2016). What explains agricultural price movements? Journal of Agricultural Economics, forthcoming.
Questions
Virtually all commodity prices declined after 2011Q1, but oil Index, nominal terms, 2010 = 100 180 150 Energy 120 90 Agriculture 60 Metals 30 Jan-07 Sep-07 May-08 Jan-09 Sep-09 May-10 Jan-11 Sep-11 May-12 Jan-13 Sep-13 May-14 Jan-15 Sep-15 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is March 2016
Indeed, oil was the outlier, out of all major commdities! Why? Natural rubber Cotton Coal Silver Nickel Copper Palmoil Aluminum Coffee (arabica) Maize Rice Tin Lead Platinum Zinc Soybeans Cocoa Gold Tea Wheat Crude oil -70-60 -50-40 -30-20 -10 0 10 Source: World Bank Price change from 2011Q1 to 2014Q2 (percent)
The four acts of oil 120 US$/bbl I 100-110 II 100 III 75 IV 50 100 75 50?? 80 Oil production increases sharply but losses elsewhere along with OPEC s production quotas balance the market thus keeping prices high, despite downward revisions of growth prospects The oil glut OPEC disengages from supply management Search for equilibrium 60 40 20 Jan-11 May-11 Sep-11 Jan-12 May-12 Sep-12 Jan-13 May-13 Sep-13 Jan-14 May-14 Sep-14 Jan-15 May-15 Sep-15 Jan-16 Source: World Bank
Global growth: Pessimist in the short term Percent 7 Forecast in January of previous year Forecast in January of current year Actual growth 6 6.1 5.4 6.0 5.5 5.4 5.7 5.3 5.5 5 5.0 5.0 4.8 4.3 4 3 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: World Bank, Global Economic Prospects Notes: Growth refers to developing countries.
8 Pessimistic But also pessimism Long-Term in Growth the long Forecasts: term Prolonged Period of Weakness? Forecast in 2010 Forecast in 2015 7.3 6 5.5 4 3.9 2 2.9 2.6 2.0 0 World Advanced Economies Developing Economies Source: World Bank calculations based on Consensus data. Note: Weighted average growth October forecasts for 46 countries for which long-term consensus forecasts are available.
Consistent upward revisions to U.S. oil production by IEA Million barrels per day 2015 13 Solid lines: Actual for the year 2014 12 11 10 2013 9 2012 8 2011 Dots: Projected for the year on the specific month 7 J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: International Energy Agency and World Bank Note: U.S. oil output includes biofuels. Last observation is December 2015.
And by EIA as well Million barrels per day 10 Solid lines: Actual for the year 2015 9 2014 8 2013 7 2012 6 2011 Dots: Projected for the year on the specific month 5 J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Source: Energy Information Agency and World Bank Note: Last observation is December 2015.
Biofuels and Canadian oil production 1.6 mb/d Global biofuel production 4.5 mb/d Canadian oil production 1.4 4.0 1.2 3.5 1.0 3.0 0.8 2.5 0.6 2.0 0.4 0.2 1.5 0.0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 1.0 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Source: IEA, BP Statistical Review, and World Bank estimates.
Surplus conditions became apparent in 2014Q2 Mb/d, changes since 2010Q4 4.5 Iran Libya Syria Yemen United States Net Changes 3.0 1.5 0.0-1.5-3.0 2010Q1 2010Q3 2011Q1 2011Q3 2012Q1 2012Q3 2013Q1 2013Q3 2014Q1 2014Q3 2015Q1 2015Q3 2016Q1 Source: International Energy Agency and World Bank Note: Last observation 2015Q4
Triger I: Geopolitical concerns dissipate 4.5 Iraq's oil production during 2014 Libya's oil production during 2015 4.0 3.5 0.50 0.36 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.24 0.42 0.53 0.78 0.87 0.69 0.44 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 3.09 3.60 3.26 3.32 3.42 3.17 3.15 3.11 3.36 3.32 3.41 3.70 1.0 0.5 0.0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Source: IEA
Triger II: The U.S. dollar begins appreciating US$/bbl Index, 1973 = 100 120 100 100 Oil price [left] 95 80 90 85 60 80 40 U.S. $ [right] 75 20 Jan-14 Mar-14 May-14 Jul-14 Sep-14 Nov-14 Jan-15 Mar-15 May-15 Jul-15 Sep-15 Nov-15 Jan-16 Mar-16 Source: World Bank and FRED. Note: Oil refers to WTI and US$ is the trade weighted U.S. dollar index against major currencies, not seasonally adjusted (DTWEXM), both daily frequency 70
OPEC s changing objective Following the East Asian financial crisis when oil dropped below $10/bbl, OPEC began setting a price target range, initially at $20-25/bbl and gradually reaching $100-110/bbl. In the face of weakening demand and increasingly strong supplies from unconventional sources, OPEC decided not to cut production in order to defend market share (November 27, 2014). An earlier, similar (albeit delayed) move was taken in 1985/86. The decision most likely reflects the realization that global commodity markets cannot be managed for long, regardless the nature of the commodity. Artificially maintaining high and stable prices not only attracts suppliers not bound by the agreements but also encourages development of substitute products. Examples abound: International Tin Agreement, 1954-85: It had two implications: (i) Artificially high tin prices made non-member producers more competitive; (ii) it encouraged the use of aluminum, a substitute product. International Coffee Agreement, 1962-89: It attracted new (non-member) producers, including Vietnam, which is now world s second largest coffee supplier.
The four great oil plunges US$/bbl, deflated by U.S. CPI (2014 terms) 150 120 OPEC changes policy to regain market share Price drops 66% in 82 days First Gulf war Price drops 48% in 71 days 2008 financial crisis Price drops 77% in 113 days 90 60 1965-2015 average price: $48.32/bbl 30 OPEC changes policy to defend market share Price drops 51% in 83 days 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is April 2016
Two of which are similar US$/bbl, deflated by U.S. CPI (2014 terms) 150 120 90 Two of which share three remarkable similarities: 1985/86 & 2014/15 60 30 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is April 2016
Both materialized after a period of high prices US$/bbl, deflated by U.S. CPI (2014 terms) 150 120 90 Both came after a period of high prices, in part supported by OPEC: December 1978-January 1986: $82/bbl August 2004-December 2014: $92/bbl 50-year average (excluding the above periods): $29/bbl 60 30 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is April 2016
In both case high prices brought new supplies US$/bbl, deflated by U.S. CPI (2014 terms) 150 120 90 In both periods, high oil prices brought new oil supplies: Prior to 1985/86: (i) Alaska, (ii) North Sea, and (iii) Gulf of Mexico (brought 5 mb/d in the 8 years prior to the collapse, 9% of world total) Prior to 2014/15: (i) Biofuels, (ii) Canadian oil sands, and (iii) U.S. shale oil (brought 7 mb/d in the decade prior to the collapse, 8% of world total) 60 30 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is April 2016
And in both cases OPEC responded US$/bbl, deflated by U.S. CPI (2014 terms) 150 120 90 In both cases, OPEC disengaged from managing supplies exacerbating the price collapse--delayed response in 1985, quick action in 2014. 60 30 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is April 2016
Contribution of supply and demand shocks to oil price movements The reduced-form VAR model is: A VAR model with sign restrictions y t = a 0 + A 1 y t 1 + A 2 y t 2 + + A l y t l + u t The variables included in the model are: oil prices, equity prices, and U.S. exchange rates. Supply and demand shocks are identified using sign restrictions. Two orthogonal shocks with impulse responses that satisfy certain signs are estimated using the model. Adverse demand shock: Oil and equity prices decline reflecting a weak economy. Favorable supply shock: Oil prices decline but equity prices increase. The differing movement of equity prices allows one to discriminate between supply and demand shocks.
Is it demand or supply? 0-10 -20-30 -40-50 -60-70 Supply (right axis) Demand (right axis) Actual (left axis) 10 0-10 -20-30 -40-50 -60-80 Jul 14 Sep 14 Nov 14 Jan 15 Mar 15 May 15 Jul 15 Sep 15 Nov 15 Jan 16-70 Source: Baffes, Kose, Ohnsorge, Stocker (2015). Note: Based on estimates from a VAR model, identifying the demand and supply shocks using sign restrictions. All shocks except the shock of interest are shut off by setting them to zeros and the model is used to trace out the counterfactual oil price. This exercise is performed separately for supply and demand shocks. The red (yellow) counterfactual shows how much oil prices would have declined since the second half of 2014 only with the estimated supply (demand) shocks. The solid line is the actual cumulative growth rate in oil price since July 2014. The last observation is January 8, 2016.
The oil price plunge brought energy prices closer together 25 US$/mmbtu 20 Crude oil (World Bank average) 15 10 5 Natural gas (U.S.) 0 Jan-00 Jan-01 Jan-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is March 2016 Coal (Australia)
US$/mmbtu 20 Natural gas prices follow suit 15 Japan (LNG) 10 Europe 5 U.S. 0 Jan-00 Jan-01 Jan-02 Jan-03 Jan-04 Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-14 Jan-15 Jan-16 Source: World Bank Note: Last observation is March 2016
The complex interaction between energy & agricultural prices Energy prices A: Crude oil B/C: Natural gas D/F: Policy-driven Biofuels Biofuels H Agricultural Prices Fertilizer prices D G1: Profitable biofuels (they may render A, B, and D/F irrelevant; oil price sets a floor to agricultural prices) Policies G2: Innovation in biofuels (agricultural prices fully linked to oil at lower level) Source: Baffes (2013)
Energy intensities WORLD HIGH INCOME DEVELOPING Manufacture Agriculture SSA US Canada EU-12 China Brazil India Turkey 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 Source: Author s calculations based on the GTAP database Cost of energy component, percent
Food commodity prices respond strongly to energy prices Transmission elasticity estimates 0.40 0.33 0.30 0.20 0.16 0.18 0.19 0.17 0.10 0.11 0.04 0.00 Non-energy Grains Oils and meals Other food Raw materials Metals Fertilizers Source: Baffes (2007) Notes: based on OLS regression of nominal prices on oil price, deflator, time trend, annual data, 1960-2005.
Oil s impact on other commodities Reduced-form econometric model log P t i M P = β 0 i + β i i 1 log Y t + β 2 R t + β i 3 log X t + β i i 4 log S t 1 + β i E i 5 log P t + ε t t P i t : Nominal price of commodity i (i = maize, soybeans, wheat, rice, palm oil, cotton) P M t : Price index of manufacturing goods, Y t : Income (proxied by various measures of GDP), R t : Interest rate (3-month T-bill), X t : US$ exchange rate (broad index of currencies), S i t : Stock-to-use ratio of commodity i, P E t : Price of crude oil, Data: Annual frequency, 1960-2015 Estimation: OLS and Panel (next slide) as well as ARDL (not shown here)
The role of energy in agricultural prices Maize Soybeans Wheat Rice Palm oil Cotton Panel S/U ratio (-1) -0.48*** -0.21*** -0.46*** -0.49*** -0.42*** 0.40*** -0.37*** Oil price 0.15*** 0.13** 0.11* 0.15*** 0.30*** 0.10 0.15*** Exchange rate -0.41-0.21-0.05-1.44*** -0.13-0.16-0.46** Interest rate 0.02-0.06** -0.06** -0.04** -0.06*** -0.05*** -0.01 Income -0.60*** -0.44*** -0.49*** -0.71*** -0.71*** -0.71*** -0.48*** Adjusted-R 2 0.67 0.50 0.50 0.70 0.53 0.60 0.59 No of obs 55 50 55 55 50 55 310 Source: Baffes and Haniotis (2016) Notes: Asterisks denote levels of significance.
The U.S. rig count responds to the price collapse US$/bbl 150 Rig count 1,800 120 Oil price, WTI [left] Rig count [right] 1,500 1,200 90 900 60 600 30 300 0 Jan-07 Aug-07 Mar-08 Oct-08 May-09 Dec-09 Jul-10 Feb-11 Sep-11 Apr-12 Nov-12 Jun-13 Jan-14 Aug-14 Mar-15 Oct-15 Source: Baker Hughes, Bloomberg, and World Bank Note: Weekly data, last observation April 22, 2016 0
U.S. oil production turned out to be resilient, until recently y-o-y monthly changes, barrels per day 2,000 The plunge begins 1,500 1,000 500 IEA forecast 0-500 -1,000 Jan-10 Jul-10 Jan-11 Jul-11 Jan-12 Jul-12 Jan-13 Jul-13 Jan-14 Jul-14 Jan-15 Jul-15 Jan-16 Jul-16 Source: International Energy Agency Notes: Last actual is January 2016. February 2016 to December 2017 is forecast
Prices are still higher than the 1985-2004 average Index, real (2010 = 100) 160 120 Agriculture Changes (%) in real prices to 2015 from: 1986-2004 1998 Agriculture: +22 +20 Energy: +73 +158 Metals: +31 +54 80 Metals 40 Energy - 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: World Bank
The ultimate question: 1985-2004 Déjà vu? Index, real (2010 = 100) 160 120 Agriculture 80 Metals 40 Energy - 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 Source: World Bank Note: The period 2016-25 refers to forecasts, as of April 2016
Crude oil price for 2016 US$/bbl 70 60 57.95 50 40 41.00 41.17 39.55 30 20 World Bank forecast Brent futures Consensus Historical average Source: World Bank, Consensus Forecast, Bloomberg. Notes: World Bank forecast (made available on April 26), average of Brent, WTI, Dubai. Average Brent futures closing for the week of April 18, including actuals to date. Consensus, median [39.55] and range [33.59-46.09] for Brent as of April 22. Historical average 12-month recovery, median [57.95] and range [55.85-69.11] since the lows of 07/86, 12/98, and 12/08 applied to 01/16 average of $29.78/bbl.
Oil continues its search for equilibrium after November 2015 DEMAND Forecast growth of emerging economies, notably China s, are revised downwards. The Northern Hemisphere experienced milder-than-usual winter linked to El Niño by some). SUPPLY OECD stocks reached record high levels. OPEC production surged, led by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The US shale oil industry turned out to be more resilient-than-expected, but the first monthly year-on-year decline took place in December 2015. MACRO US$ (against major currencies) appreciated further, but weakened recently (down almost 7 percent since mid-january). POLICY OPEC reaffirmed retaining market share in its December 2015 meeting. OPEC & non-opec producers failed to agree on freezing production during their April 17 meeting in Doha. Politics appears to have played a key role. Sanctions on Iran were removed earlier-than-expected (it already increased exports). US lifted the effective ban on crude oil exports (no material changes, US is still a net oil importer).
OECD stocks and OPEC crude production surged OECD crude and product stocks OPEC crude oil production Million barrels 3,100 Mb/d 33 3,000 32 2,900 2,800 31 2,700 30 2,600 29 2,500 2,400 Jun-14 Aug-14 Oct-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Jun-15 Aug-15 Oct-15 Dec-15 Feb-16 28 Jun-14 Aug-14 Oct-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15 Jun-15 Aug-15 Oct-15 Dec-15 Feb-16 Source: International Energy Agency
Iran s history mb/d 7 6 Consumption Net exports World share: 10.1% World share: 4.1% Iranian Revolution, 1979 Iran-Iraq War, 1980-88 Escalation of sanctions, 2011-15 5 4 3 2 1 0 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Source: BP Statistical Review. Note: Production includes crude oil and liquids.
Proved oil reserves Iran s potential Proved natural gas reserves Venezuela Iran, Islamic Rep. Saudi Arabia Russian Federation Canada Qatar Iran, Islamic Rep. Iraq Russian Federation 9.3% of world total Turkmenistan United States Saudi Arabia 18.2% of world total Kuwait United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Venezuela United States Nigeria Libya Algeria Nigeria Australia Kazakhstan Iraq Qatar China China Indonesia Brazil Canada 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 billion barrels 0 10 20 30 40 trillion cubic metres Source: BP Statistical Review and World Bank
Global metal consumption Million metric tons 5 4 World, excluding China 3 2 China 1 - Jan-95 Jan-97 Jan-99 Jan-01 Jan-03 Jan-05 Jan-07 Jan-09 Jan-11 Jan-13 Jan-15 Source: World Bank and World Bureau of Metal Statistics
Agricultural prices decline despite El Niño Index, deflated by U.S. CPI, Jan. 2010=100 200 Agriculture price index ENSO Index peaks 170 140 110-12.6% -19.6% -0.9% -2.2% -6.5% -7.3% 80 1.4% -2.9% The strongest El Niño on record, 1997/98 50 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 Source: World Bank and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. Note: The numbers denote percent changes of the six-month average price index leading to the episode compared to the previous six-month period (bold) and the corresponding six-month period of the previous year (italic). The last observation is February 2016. 10.4% 9.8% 3.8% -3.5% -7.1% -14.8%