Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Saudi GDP growth will hinge on OPEC+ decision After exiting recession in Q1, Saudi Arabia’s economy should continue to expand over the rest of this year on the back of strong private non-oil growth and higher oil output. But next month’s OPEC... 22nd May 2024 · 4 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Update Iran’s succession plans unlikely to fix economic woes The death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi yesterday creates greater uncertainty over the succession planning for the next Supreme Leader. But, taking a step back, the balance of political power... 20th May 2024 · 4 mins read
Energy Update US shale boom approaching a peak Having soared to a record high level under the Biden administration, we expect US shale oil output to peak this year before contracting in 2025, driven by a combination of further industry... 20th May 2024 · 4 mins read
Commodities Weekly OPEC sticks to its bullish oil demand forecast The second consecutive monthly reduction in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2024 oil demand growth forecast this week further widened the wedge between the IEA’s and OPEC’s near-term outlooks... 17th May 2024 · 5 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Copper price upsurge will not be sustained The surge in copper prices today, to a record high of over $5/lb in trading on the New York commodities exchange (COMEX), is the latest twist in the eye-popping market rally and leaves prices looking... 15th May 2024 · 2 mins read
Commodities Weekly OPEC+ to roll-over?; China commodity imports up With less than a month to go until OPEC+ meets to decide upon its next policy move, rumours are heating up as to what its move will be. Last week, anonymous OPEC+ sources suggested that the 2.2... 10th May 2024 · 7 mins read
Middle East & North Africa Economics Weekly UAE ups the ante with OPEC, review of April’s PMIs The UAE has raised its oil production capacity even further in a sign that it wants to raise actual output. But with rumours growing that OPEC+ may extend its current low oil output quotas beyond June... 9th May 2024 · 7 mins read
Industrial Metals Update Zinc on the brink of a price fall The surplus in the zinc market will shrink a little this year, as recovering raw material supply and a pick-up in refined output is offset by a boost to demand from a cyclical recovery in China. That... 9th May 2024 · 3 mins read
Commodities Chart Pack Commodities Overview Chart Pack (May 2024) We think that oil prices have further to fall, as we expect OPEC+ to gradually increase output later this year. Prices have recently fallen as worries that the conflict in the Middle East could affect... 8th May 2024 · 1 min read
Energy Chart Pack Energy Chart Pack (May 2024) Our Energy Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments. The fall in oil prices since Iran and Israel’s back-and-forth attacks suggests that some of the... 7th May 2024 · 1 min read
Metals Chart Pack Metals Chart Pack (May 2024) Our Metals Chart Pack has been updated with the latest data and our analysis of recent developments. The strong rally in industrial metals prices seems stretched and, as a result, we expect prices to... 7th May 2024 · 1 min read
Commodities Update China PMIs point to solid but unremarkable demand China’s PMI surveys for April suggest the economy continues to grow at a faster pace than a few months ago which is providing support for commodity demand. Today’s Politburo statement signalled that... 30th April 2024 · 2 mins read
Commodities Weekly Metals prices: a genuine breakout or overoptimism? In a mixed week for commodity prices, copper topped $10,000 per tonne for the first time since April 2022. This is the latest in what has been a rip-roaring start to the year for non-ferrous... 26th April 2024 · 4 mins read
Event Commodities Drop-In: Geopolitical risk and the commodities price outlook 1714658400 Geopolitical risk may be ever-present in global commodity markets, but it’s arguably been an even bigger driver over the past year or so.