Survey forecasts price of Arab Light OSP to Asia increasing $0.25-$0.60 per barrel
Saudi Arabia plans to increase the price of its crude oil to Asia next month. The increase of OPEC’s largest producer’s official selling price (OSP) of its benchmark Arab Light to Asia comes in response to robust demand for its crude in Asian markets and to higher consumption at home during the hot summer months, reports Reuters.
A survey conducted by Reuters forecast the Arab Light OSP to Asia would be raised by $0.25-$0.60 per barrel, putting it at parity with the Oman/Dubai average, which sat at $16.58 per barrel in November. The OPEC crude oil basket price, which is made up of several crude grades from OPEC’s members, sat higher at the end of November at $30.93, according to the group.
Saudi Arabia produced 10.13 MMBOPD in November, down 25.2 MBOPD from October, based on secondary sources reported in OPEC’s December Oil Market Report. Total OPEC production grew by 230 MBOPD in November, largely on the back of increased production from Iraq.
Saudi Arabia rings in 2016 with a 15% deficit; cutting subsidies – gasoline price to citizens going up by 50%; water and electricity are next; roads/bridges face cuts
With 90% of its overall revenue coming from oil exports, lower oil prices have cut deep into Saudi Arabia’s budget. Despite this, the country has continued its strategy of defending market share over price, a decision that meant the kingdom ran a deficit of about 15% of GDP in 2015.
In response, the kingdom cut its 2016 budget by about 14% to $225 billion. Saudi Arabia is still expected to post a budget deficit of $87 billion in 2016 even with its current spending cuts.
As part of its strategy to cut expenses, the Saudi government has started to target subsidies and benefits to its people. On December 29, the kingdom decreased its subsidy on gasoline, raising the price to $0.24 per liter (about $1.10 per gallon), 50% higher than it was previously.
Other subsidies could face the ax soon as well. Water and electricity prices are expected to go up, and the government is scaling back spending on roads, buildings and other infrastructure, reports CNN.
Taxing citizens may be the next step
Saudi Arabia may also be forced with implementing taxes in order to help bridge the gap in its budget. Traditionally, the monarchy has not taxed the people, a move that gives it considerable political sway.
“Part of the leverage the regime has had on their people is that they don’t impose taxes and therefore people don’t expect representation,” said Robert Jordan, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia. “But once they pay taxes, you’re likely to see an increase in political unrest.”
Nearly 90% of Saudis are employed by the government, and official statistics put unemployment near 12%, though it could be higher since many Saudis don’t look for work because of strong unemployment benefits coming to them. Cuts to government spending could lead to higher levels of unemployment, lower benefits and increasing tensions between the Saudi royal family and the people of Saudi Arabia.
The execution of 47 prisoners in Saudi captivity over the weekend is a warning sign that the Saudis will not tolerate dissent, said Jordan.
Tensions spreading across the Middle East
Included in those executed last Saturday was Shia Muslim cleric Nemer al-Nemer, whose death sparked outrage in Tehran where the Saudi embassy was attacked. Saudi Arabia and several of its Sunni Muslim allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran following the attack on the embassy. Al-Nemer led antigovernment protests against Saudi Arabia during the Arab Spring in 2011.
The latest salvo of political bad-blood highlights the strain between the members of OPEC. The group seems to be increasingly splintered as Saudi Arabia continues to spearhead a strategy of higher production, causing less financially stable OPEC members to suffer under lower oil prices.
“Cooperation on oil was meant to be the cornerstone for better relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” Dr. Hossein Askari, Iran Professor of International Business and International Affairs at The George Washington University, told Oil & Gas 360®. “But I don’t see any chance for cooperation in the future.”
