ocbc commodities 2h18 outlook...2 • gold prices faded lower despite the uptick in risk aversion...
TRANSCRIPT
OCBC Commodities 2H18 Outlook:
Price rallies dissipated… What now? 26th June 2018
Barnabas Gan
Economist
Treasury Research & Strategy
1
2
• Gold prices faded lower despite the uptick in risk aversion into June, highlighting
gold’s disfavor with investors as a safe haven asset to-date. Since the start of 2018, gold
prices declined from its $1,300/oz handle to as low as $1,278.5/oz in mid-June.
• The yellow metal’s 60-day correlation with the greenback tuned stronger into May to
as strong as -0.77, suggesting that much of gold’s movement has been predicated by
dollar trend.
• Fundamentally, the relatively rosier US-centric economic indicators have supported
dollar strength, led by strong job gains, lower unemployment levels, higher household
spending and business fixed investment. Elsewhere, the surprisingly dovish central bank
rhetoric by the ECB and BOJ also gave the greenback further strength into June.
• Paper demand however, remains strong into end-June. Gold ETF holdings continue to
climb even as gold prices tumble, suggesting that investors’ need to diversify given
ongoing uncertainties can still be seen. Physical demand however, remains lacklustre.
• Inflation risks remain muted into end of 1H18, despite the higher oil prices seen to-
date. US-centric inflation expectations seen from the 5Y and 10Y TIPS suggest that CPI
pressures remains tame. This is seen to be trending in line with gold prices to-date.
• We downgrade our gold outlook at $1,300/oz at end-year. While a firmer dollar story
into 3Q18 could potentially keep gold bulls at bay, some unwinding of dollar strength in
4Q18 will likely give gold the necessary boost to our year-end target.
Gold: In disfavor with investors
3
Gold prices will depend on key correlation patterns
Source: Bloomberg, CEIC, OCBC Bank
-1-0.8-0.6-0.4-0.200.20.40.60.8
-0.8-0.6-0.4-0.20.00.20.40.60.81.0
01
-Jan
-17
01
-Fe
b-1
7
01
-Mar
-17
01
-Ap
r-1
7
01
-May
-17
01
-Ju
n-1
7
01
-Ju
l-1
7
01
-Au
g-1
7
01
-Se
p-1
7
01
-Oct
-17
01
-No
v-1
7
01
-De
c-1
7
01
-Jan
-18
01
-Fe
b-1
8
01
-Mar
-18
01
-Ap
r-1
8
01
-May
-18
01
-Ju
n-1
8
Correlation behaves in an orderly fashion into 1H18
30d VIX and Gold Correlation USD - Gold 30d Correlation (RHS)
• Gold prices have remained “well-behaved” based on correlation patterns. Gold-DXY 30-
day correlation sustained near close to -1.0 into end-June, while VIX-Gold correlation
remained in positive zone.
• Conventional wisdom indicates that a dearer greenback will depress gold prices, given
gold being a dollar-denominated asset. Sustained negative correlation with the greenback
suggest that dollar movement will likely persuade gold’s behavior into 2H18.
• The VIX index, on the other hand, has picked up modestly to-date. More commonly known
as the ‘fear index’, the uptick in the VIX suggest market concerns over the brewing US-
Sino trade tensions.
88
90
92
94
96
98
100
102
1041000
1050
1100
1150
1200
1250
1300
1350
1400
1450
Jan
-16
Mar
-16
May
-16
Jul-
16
Sep
-16
No
v-1
6
Jan
-17
Mar
-17
May
-17
Jul-
17
Sep
-17
No
v-1
7
Jan
-18
Mar
-18
May
-18
(In
vert
ed
)
$/o
z
Gold-DXY correlation remains water-tight
Gold Futures US Dollar Index (RHS-Inverted)
4
Dollar movement to persuade gold into 3Q18 1. US-centric economic indicators continue to print in a rosy fashion. Job gains have
been strong and unemployment rate has declined. Household spending has picked up
while business fixed investment has continued to grow strongly.
2. More rate hikes incoming: The recent FOMC dot-plot in June now points to four rate
hikes into 2018, up from three hikes in its March’s report. Since 2015, the US Federal
Reserve has hiked rates seven times in all (from 0.25% to 2.0%).
3. Surprisingly dovish central bank rhetoric by the European Central Bank and the Bank
of Japan.
4. Trade tariffs serves to narrow US trade deficit, which in theory should rally the
greenback.
5. Safe haven demand? The dollar has been traditionally a safe haven asset, and could be
re-positioned as such especially if risk events and uncertainties continue to brew into the
backdrop.
5
June’s FOMC dot-plot chart signals four rate hikes
Source: FOMC
• The FOMC committee’s recent dot-plot chart signals a total of four rate hikes into 2018,
and three more into 2019.
• Expectations for higher US-centric rates, amid recent dovish rhetoric by ECB and BOJ
will likely dull gold’s luster as a store of value, given a relatively dearer greenback.
6
Recent pick-up in ETF demand… but?
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
70
120
170
220
270
1,150
1,200
1,250
1,300
1,350
1,400
Jan
-17
Feb
-17
Mar
-17
Ap
r-1
7
May
-17
Jun
-17
Jul-
17
Au
g-1
7
Sep
-17
Oct
-17
No
v-1
7
De
c-1
7
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
May
-18
Tho
usa
nd
s
Net-long speculative interest in gold declined as dollar gained favor
Net Non-Commercial Combined Positions (RHS)
Gold (USD/t oz.)
• ETF demand continues to climb into June despite lower gold prices. Global ETF
holdings into mid-June clocked 70.7 million troy ounces, up from 66.3 million troy
ounces during the same period in 2017. The sustained demand for ETF exposure
suggest investors’ need for diversification especially during uncertainties seen to-date.
• Money-managers on the other hand, focused largely on a stronger dollar seen since
mid-April, and reduced speculative holdings in gold options and futures. Over a four-
week moving average, speculative net-long positions in gold has fallen to its lowest
since July 2017, a time when global economic fundamentals were showing clear signs
of broad-based recovery and optimism.
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
10001050110011501200125013001350140014501500
Jul-
13
No
v-1
3
Mar
-14
Jul-
14
No
v-1
4
Mar
-15
Jul-
15
No
v-1
5
Mar
-16
Jul-
16
No
v-1
6
Mar
-17
Jul-
17
No
v-1
7
Mar
-18
Mill
ion
s
$/o
z
Gold ETF demand continue to point north despite lower gold prices
Total Known ETF Holdings (RHS) Gold Futures
7
Physical gold demand remains lackluster
Source: World Gold Council, Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
• The World Gold Council reports that overall gold demand of 973.5 tonnes in
1Q18 was the lowest Q1 print since 2008, led by a sharp downturn in Indian jewelry
demand (-12% y/y), while China’s bar and coin demand fell by an alarming 26% y/y
over the same period.
• Central bank demand buoyed demand at +42% y/y, the highest 1Q growth since
2014. The higher demand was led by buying seen in Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan.
• Industrial demand rose by a tepid 4.0% in 1Q, though the positive print does also
suggest the healthy demand in industrial products especially in the wireless and
memory sectors.
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Jan
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jul-
15
Oct
-15
Jan
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jul-
16
Oct
-16
Jan
-17
Ap
r-1
7
Jul-
17
Oct
-17
Jan
-18
Ap
r-1
8
kg t
ho
usa
nd
China gold import
HK Gold exports to China (kg) Growth (%)
-100%
-50%
0%
50%
100%
150%
200%
250%
300%
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Jan
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jul-
15
Oct
-15
Jan
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jul-
16
Oct
-16
Jan
-17
Ap
r-1
7
Jul-
17
Oct
-17
Jan
-18
Ap
r-1
8
ton
ne
s
India gold import
Gold Imports (Tonnes) Growth (%)
8
Tame inflationary pressures to keep gold at bay
• There remains little inflation risk to-date
despite stronger oil prices. Across key
economies, recent inflation prints remains
in-line with official targets.
• Tame inflationary pressures in past years
suggest that the yellow metal hasn’t been
regarded as an inflation-hedge.
• Gold prices appear to be in a sweet spot
given real interest rates levels across G7
and APXJ.
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
US Euro Area Japan China S. Korea Vietnam
Inflation risk remains muted-neutral for now
CPI Official Target
1,000
1,050
1,100
1,150
1,200
1,250
1,300
1,350
1.1
1.3
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.3
Jan
-16
Mar
-16
May
-16
Jul-
16
Sep
-16
No
v-1
6
Jan
-17
Mar
-17
May
-17
Jul-
17
Sep
-17
No
v-1
7
Jan
-18
Mar
-18
May
-18
%
No trigger for higher gold prices for nowUS 10Y expectations in line with gold prices
US 10Y expected inflation Gold Futures (RHS)
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
0.8%
1.0%
1.2%
1.4%
1.6%
1.8%
2.0%
2.2%
2.4%
Jan
-16
Mar
-16
May
-16
Jul-
16
Sep
-16
No
v-1
6
Jan
-17
Mar
-17
May
-17
Jul-
17
Sep
-17
No
v-1
7
Jan
-18
Mar
-18
May
-18
US5Y breakeven appears tame around its 2.0% handle
US 5Y Breakeven Gold Futures (RHS)
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
9
Gold in a sweet spot for now
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
Ja
n-0
7
No
v-0
7
Sep-0
8
Ju
l-0
9
Ma
y-1
0
Ma
r-1
1
Ja
n-1
2
No
v-1
2
Se
p-1
3
Ju
l-1
4
Ma
y-1
5
Ma
r-1
6
Ja
n-1
7
No
v-1
7
$/o
z
G7 Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) Gold Futures (RHS)
Negative r
eal
inte
rest
rate
sP
ositiv
e r
eal
inte
rest
rate
s
10
• Oil prices saw a knee-jerk reaction in late June, as investors reacted to a
seemingly lower-than-expected rise in OPEC’s production hike. According to the
OPEC meeting notes on Friday, it stated that countries “will strive to adhere to the overall
conformity level, voluntarily adjusted to 100%, as of 1 July 2018”. Anonymous sources
who are reported to be familiar with the deal’s technical aspects hint that production
gains translates into about 600,000 bpd for now.
• Oil prices may continue to dip further into the months ahead, following OPEC’s
decision to raise production into 2H18. Still, note that the proposed rise in production is
considered to be small, given a total of 2.4 million bpd of production cut seen since 2016.
Information regarding who and by how much the production hikes may affect remains to
be an unknown at this juncture.
• Further upside risk in US-led oil production cannot be ruled out. US crude oil
production rose to new record highs of 10.9 million barrels (+16.6% y/y) as of 15th June
2018. Oil-rig counts continue to gain as well into end 1H18, a leading indicator that US-
led production will likely grow further into 2018.
• Note that global fundamentals indicate that supplies have surpassed demand seen
since March 2018, and any exacerbation of the supply glut may persuade oil prices
lower. Accounting for further upside risk in oil production into 2H18 given potentially
higher US and OPEC supply, we continue to see lower WTI and Brent prices into the
second half to touch $65/bbl and $70/bbl, respectively.
Crude Oil: Look out for higher supplies
11
Chart of the month: Back in oversupply territories
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
96.5
97.0
97.5
98.0
98.5
99.0
99.5
100.0Ju
l-1
7
Au
g-1
7
Sep
-17
Oct
-17
No
v-1
7
De
c-1
7
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
mill
ion
bp
d
Global supply surpassed demand for the second month
Global Oil Product Supply Global Oil Product Demand
12
Production update: OPEC to raise production
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
60
.1%
58
.0%
61
.3%
64
.7%
71
.5%
63
.3%
72
.6%
86
.4%
10
5.8
%
10
3.5
%
13
8.8
%
15
1.7
%
13
9.2
%
16
8.3
%
17
7.9
%
17
7.2
%
16
8.6
%
-2600-2400-2200-2000-1800-1600-1400-1200-1000-800
0%
30%
60%
90%
120%
150%
180%
Jan
-17
Feb
-17
Mar
-17
Ap
r-1
7
May
-17
Jun
-17
Jul-
17
Au
g-1
7
Sep
-17
Oct
-17
No
v-1
7
De
c-1
7
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
May
-18 th
ou
san
d b
arre
ls p
er
day
OPEC's compliance levels remains high into May 2018
Compliance Rate Production cut from reference levels (RHS)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Jan
-17
Feb
-17
Mar
-17
Ap
r-1
7
May
-17
Jun
-17
Jul-
17
Au
g-1
7
Sep
-17
Oct
-17
No
v-1
7
De
c-1
7
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
May
-18
Jun
-18
tho
usa
nd
bar
rels
pe
r d
ay
US oil production: Volume change since Jan 2017
+1.99 million barrels per day
• OPEC has been complying with production cuts as per the implication of the Algiers
Accord to reduce production by around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Since May
2018, total production cut in OPEC alone measured 2.4 million bpd.
• Over the same period, US oil production rose by almost 2.0 million bpd since
January 2017 to June’s print of 10.9 million bpd, less than the production cuts seen in
OPEC. Into end-2018, the US Energy Information Administration views total US oil
production to average 10.8 million bpd (currently 6M18 average: 10.4 million bpd).
• The uptick in OPEC supplies into 2H18 would invariably raise global oil
production, assuming sustained US production climb over the same period, and likely
exacerbate the over supply climate seen to-date.
13
US oil exports also a key wildcard into 2H18
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0200400600800
100012001400160018002000
Feb
-11
Jul-
11
De
c-1
1
May
-12
Oct
-12
Mar
-13
Au
g-1
3
Jan
-14
Jun
-14
No
v-1
4
Ap
r-1
5
Sep
-15
Feb
-16
Jul-
16
De
c-1
6
May
-17
Oct
-17
Mar
-18
$/b
bl
No
. of
oil
rigs
US oil rig count climbs into 2018
Shale Gas & Tight Oil Rigs Conventional Rigs WTI (RHS)
7880828486889092949698
1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 33 37 41 45 49
(%)
US refinery utilisation rates edged into the driving season
Highest (2013-2017) Lowest(2013-2017)
Average(2012-2017) 2018
Week
Refinery Maintenance Season
Refinery Maintenance Season
Driving Season
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000
11000
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
Oct
-10
Ap
r-1
1
Oct
-11
Ap
r-1
2
Oct
-12
Ap
r-1
3
Oct
-13
Ap
r-1
4
Oct
-14
Ap
r-1
5
Oct
-15
Ap
r-1
6
Oct
-16
Ap
r-1
7
Oct
-17
Ap
r-1
8
Cru
de
Oil
Pro
d -
10
00
bar
rels
/day
Exp
ort
s -
10
00
bar
rels
/day
US Oil production and exports(10 week moving-average)
Crude Oil Exports Finished Motor Gasoline ExportsKerosene-type Jet Fuel Exports Distillate Fuel ExportsResidual Fuel Oil Exports Propane/Propylene ExportsOther Oils Exports Crude Oil Production (RHS)
• US crude oil exports grew into mid-
June to new record highs of 2.1 million
bpd over a 10-week moving average.
• US rig counts continue to climb over
the same period, a leading indicator
that oil production may rise into 2H18.
• Note that while US crude oil
inventories remain near its 5-year
average, much of the decline is also due
to stronger refinery utilisation rates into
mid-year.
14
Demand has been slowing in key importers
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
Jan
-07
Jul-
07
Jan
-08
Jul-
08
Jan
-09
Jul-
09
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
Jan
-17
Slowing demand already seen in China and India (12mma - YoY)
US China India EU28 Japan
15
Bullish bets on crude oil dissipated
Source: Bloomberg, CFTC, OCBC Bank
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Jan
-09
Jul-
09
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
Jan
-17
Jul-
17
Jan
-18
Tho
usa
nd
s
Crude Oil (WTI)
Net Non-Commercial Combined Positions (RHS)
WTI Futures (USD/bbl.)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
10
30
50
70
90
110
130
Jan
-11
Jun
-11
No
v-1
1
Ap
r-1
2
Sep
-12
Feb
-13
Jul-
13
De
c-1
3
May
-14
Oct
-14
Mar
-15
Au
g-1
5
Jan
-16
Jun
-16
No
v-1
6
Ap
r-1
7
Sep
-17
Feb
-18
Tho
usa
nd
s
Crude Oil (Brent)
Net Non-Commercial Combined Positions (RHS)
Brent Futures (USD/bbl.)
-30,000
-20,000
-10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
02
-Jan
-18
09
-Jan
-18
16
-Jan
-18
23
-Jan
-18
30
-Jan
-18
06
-Fe
b-1
8
13
-Fe
b-1
8
20
-Fe
b-1
8
27
-Fe
b-1
8
06
-Mar
-18
13
-Mar
-18
20
-Mar
-18
27
-Mar
-18
03
-Ap
r-1
8
10
-Ap
r-1
8
17
-Ap
r-1
8
24
-Ap
r-1
8
01
-May
-18
08
-May
-18
15
-May
-18
22
-May
-18
29
-May
-18
05
-Ju
n-1
8
12
-Ju
n-1
8
19
-Ju
n-1
8
Bullish bets on oil are fading (CFTC spec net-longs - 4-week average change)
16
• The disconcerting aspect of palm oil prices is the surprisingly weak demand
despite the recent Ramadan season. Demand has been surprisingly weak into June
2018, a key driver for falling palm oil prices of late. Statistically, Malaysia’s crude palm oil
exports in May fell 70.5% y/y to 107 thousand metric tonnes, the lowest level since Feb
2007. Indonesia’s crude palm oil exports has also contracted by four consecutive months
into April 2018.
• Production declined as well, seen from a 7.8% y/y contraction in Malaysia’s CPO
production in May. Inventories however remain flushed at 2.2 million metric tonnes in the
same period, highlighting that supplies remain adequate to-date. Still, supplies are also
expected to expand further into October 2018 given seasonal factors, a rather persuasive
driver that could keep palm oil bulls at bay for now.
• Trade tariffs and China’s threat to restrict soybean imports from the US should drive
palm oil prices higher, though it remains to be seen at this juncture. Should history be of
reference, palm oil prices surged on fresh trade tariff-related news in April 2018,
highlighting market bets over potentially higher Chinese palm-related imports.
• We continue to stay bearish over palm oil prices into 2H18 given the fundamental
picture. With supplies likely to print higher into the third quarter amid lackluster demand,
we keep our 3Q price outlook at MYR2,250/MT with downside risks, before seeing some
recovery to our MYR2,400/MT estimate into year-end as supplies dwindle then.
Palm Oil: Poor, poor fundamentals
17
Ramadan-led events failed to spur demand
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
-70%
-60%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
De
c-1
7
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
Indonesia CPO Export YOY Indonesia PPO Exports YOY
-100%
-50%
0%
50%
100%
150%
200%
250%
Jan
-18
Feb
-18
Mar
-18
Ap
r-1
8
May
-18
Malaysia CPO Export YOY Malaysia PPO Exports YOY
• The demand boost from Ramadan-led
celebrations seen in past years did not
materialise in 2018. Palm oil demand
was surprisingly weak pre-Ramadan, led
by lower demand from India, EU, and
Netherlands.
• Note Indonesia’s crude palm oil (CPO)
exports declined for four consecutive
months, while Malaysia surprisingly
clocked a contraction in May.
Weak palm oil export prints seen in key exporting countries
-72.5%
-19.6%
70.6%
18.9%
-52.4%
-100%-80%-60%-40%-20%
0%20%40%60%80%
Ind
ia EU
Ch
ina
Pak
ista
n
Net
her
lan
ds
Palm oil import growth in May 2018, across top five importing countries
18
Supplies were weak, albeit to grow into 2H18
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
• Despite the relatively weaker export demand seen in 1H18, Malaysia palm oil
inventories remain flushed into end-May at 2.17 million tonnes (vs 5-year average of 1.98
million tonnes).
• Supplies were soft as well in May following replanting exercises in key producing estates
in Peninsula Malaysia (-3.9%) and Sabah (-6.6%). Accounting for the fall, total palm oil
production in Malaysia clocked its first y/y contraction (-7.8%) since June 2017.
• Malaysia’s palm oil production will likely grow further into 3Q18 given seasonal factors,
as palm fruit production and oil yield traditionally picks up during this period. Coupled with
the poor demand seen of late, overall palm oil prices could see further downside risk at least
into 3Q18.
1,800
2,300
2,800
3,300
3,800
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
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
Jan
-17
Jul-
17
Jan
-18
('0
00
) m
etr
ic t
on
s
Malaysia palm oil inventories remain flushed given poor export demand
Crude Palm Oil Inventory Processed Palm Oil Inventory
Palm Oil Futures (RHS)
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2,200
Jan
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jul-
15
Oct
-15
Jan
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jul-
16
Oct
-16
Jan
-17
Ap
r-1
7
Jul-
17
Oct
-17
Jan
-18
Ap
r-1
8
Jul-
18
Oct
-18
('0
00
) to
ns
Malaysia's CPO production to grow into 2018 Note weaker production in May
Malaysia CPO Production Projected Production
19
‘Normal’ weather conditions for now
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
-2-1.5-1-0.500.511.522.53
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
Ap
r-9
5
Au
g-9
6
De
c-9
7
Ap
r-9
9
Au
g-0
0
De
c-0
1
Ap
r-0
3
Au
g-0
4
De
c-0
5
Ap
r-0
7
Au
g-0
8
De
c-0
9
Ap
r-1
1
Au
g-1
2
De
c-1
3
Ap
r-1
5
Au
g-1
6
MY
R/M
T
Palm oil prices appear to have peaked, prices to fall into 2018?
ONI Index (RHS) Palm Oil Futures (lag 12 months)
El N
ino
La N
ina
ONI > 1.5 = Strong El Nino
ONI < 1.5 = Strong La Nina
-80%
-60%
-40%
-20%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
120%
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
Palm prices rally significantly on weather extremities
• While weak La Nina conditions were reported in early 2018, indicators are now
“consistent with an imminent decay” of the said La Nina event, according to the World
Meteorological Organization. The agency added that there will be a transition to neutral
conditions and a continuation of La Nina condition will be unlikely into 2018.
• We note that past weather extremities are drivers that rallied palm oil prices (1998,
2001, 2008). Recent El Nino as of 2015 did rally prices by as much as 31% y/y, though
recent declines in palm prices indicate the lack of weather extremities to-date.
• With neutral weather conditions to play out, it suggest that any swings in palm oil prices
due to weather conditions is highly unlikely at this juncture.
20
Wither the ringgit? Weaker MYR should support
prices
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
3.5
3.7
3.9
4.1
4.3
4.5
2,000
2,200
2,400
2,600
2,800
3,000
3,200
Jan
-16
Mar
-16
May
-16
Jul-
16
Sep
-16
No
v-1
6
Jan
-17
Mar
-17
May
-17
Jul-
17
Sep
-17
No
v-1
7
Jan
-18
Mar
-18
May
-18
MY
R/M
T
The weaker MYR to-date did not support palm oil prices, likely given poor CPO demand
Palm Oil Futures USD/MYR (RHS)
21
US-Sino trade tariffs should benefit palm oil… but?
Source: MPOB, OCBC Bank
22
Other factors: Soybeans and other risk assets
Source: Bloomberg, OCBC Bank
230
250
270
290
310
330
350
370
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
Jan
-17
Jul-
17
Jan
-18
mill
ion
me
tric
to
ns
Global soybean production continued to climb into 2017
Global Soybean Production
• Movement in palm oil prices will also
depend on other growth-related
commodities including copper and crude
oil remain near 2010 levels, with recent
movements hinting at some price
consolidations at this juncture.
• Global soybean production continue to
print new highs at 355 million tonnes
(+3.1% y/y in May 2018).
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Jan
-14
Ap
r-1
4
Jul-
14
Oct
-14
Jan
-15
Ap
r-1
5
Jul-
15
Oct
-15
Jan
-16
Ap
r-1
6
Jul-
16
Oct
-16
Jan
-17
Ap
r-1
7
Jul-
17
Oct
-17
Jan
-18
Ap
r-1
8
USD
/MT
Cheaper soyoil drags palm oil as an alternative product
Crude palm oil Soy Oil Soy Oil - CPO Premium
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
20
18
USD
/MT
Palm oil prices may turn neutral-soft depending on how gasoil prices move
Crude palm oil Gas Oil Futures
23
OCBC Commodity Forecast 2H18
Source: MPOB, OCBC Bank
Updated as of June 26, 2018
3y AVG Spot Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2F Q3F Q4F
Energy
WTI ($/bbl) 47.1 68.1 51.8 48.2 48.2 55.3 62.9 67.6 66.3 65.0
Brent ($/bbl) 50.7 74.7 54.6 50.8 52.2 61.5 67.2 74.7 71.3 70.0
Gasoline ($/gallon) 1.53 2.05 1.58 1.58 1.63 1.71 1.86 2.11 2.16 1.97
Natural Gas ($/mmbtu) 2.68 2.92 3.06 3.14 2.95 2.92 2.85 2.83 3.24 3.18
Precious Metals
Gold ($/oz) 1210.4 1,269 1,221 1,259 1,283 1,279 1,331 1,312 1,273 1,300
Silver ($/oz) 16.5 16.4 17.5 17.2 16.9 16.7 16.7 16.6 16.2 16.6
Platinum ($/oz) 994 871 983 942 957 925 981 909 909 963
Palladium ($/oz) 722 935 768 815 899 988 1,026 973 943 1,000
Base Metals
Copper ($/MT) 5,523 6,755 5,855 5,692 6,383 6,856 6,997 6,909 6,705 6,500
Tin ($/MT) 17,764 20,190 20,012 19,906 20,482 19,817 21,151 20,975 20,317 20,313
Nickel ($/MT) 10,630 14,668 10,277 9,214 10,547 11,614 13,277 14,454 13,683 13,000
Zinc ($/MT) 2,265 2,858 2,789 2,604 2,961 3,198 3,390 3,116 3,048 3,023
Aluminum ($/MT) 1,737 2,155 1,858 1,913 2,027 2,122 2,160 2,261 2,225 2,100
Asian Commodities
Crude Palm Oil (MYR/MT) 2,523 2,290 2,938 2,545 2,670 2,659 2,491 2,394 2,250 2,400
Source:
Historical Data - Bloomberg
Forecasts - OCBC Bank
Data reflects average price
2017 2018
Thank You
24
25
Disclaimer Treasury Market Research & Strategy
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