Professional Documents
Culture Documents
11 January 2008
Macro
Commodities Outlook
Commodity As An Asset Class: Like the Sirens in Greek mythology, Table of Contents
commodities have been singing an alluring melody for global investors as Commodity Views ..................................... 2
financial market dislocation has enveloped more traditional asset classes. #1 Executive Summary .............................. 3
#2 Trade Recommendations...................... 6
Global Markets Research
Instead of destruction, we anticipate another year of strong commodity #3 Trade Review ........................................ 7
price gains in 2008, most notably in the agricultural sector. #4 Commodity Indices............................... 9
#5 Global Macro....................................... 13
Oil: We believe the run-up in oil prices during the fourth quarter of 2007 #6 Commodity Cycles.............................. 16
goes beyond what can be explained by the decline in the US dollar and #7 Crude Oil & US Natural Gas ................ 17
#8 Markets vs. Analysts........................... 22
the level of global growth. We see prices averaging USD85/bbl this year. #9 US Power............................................ 23
#10 Commodity Term Structures ............ 24
Natural Gas: We expect prices will eventually benefit from inadequate #11 Commodity Volatility......................... 33
capacity additions from proposed coal projects and wind power, which are #12 Skew View & Spike Risk ................... 37
required to meet electricity generation needs. #13 Precious Metals ................................ 42
#14 PGMs ................................................ 47
#15 Industrial Metals ............................... 49
Precious Metals: The risk of further dollar weakness has not been #16 Agriculture ....................................... 61
exhausted, in our view. Consequently we see the gold price overshooting #17 Emissions.......................................... 66
this year and expect fundamentals in platinum will remain tight into 2009. #18 US Carbon Trading............................ 71
#19 Uranium ............................................ 73
#20 Bulk Commodities............................. 77
Industrial Metals: We expect this sector to recover in 2008 as US Commodities Chartbook ......................... 86
recession risk fades, the Fed stops easing, equity markets stabilise and Price Forecasts ........................................ 95
Chinese demand returns. We are particularly constructive towards
aluminium and copper.
Agriculture: Global land and water constraints as well as the need to feed
people, cattle and cars are expected to deliver new price highs this year
Research Team
We favour corn, cotton and soybeans.
Commodities: Siren Or Beacon? London
Michael Lewis
44 20 7545 2166
Jude Brhanavan
44 20 7547 1558
Hong Kong
Amanda Lee, CFA
852 2203 8376
Paris
Mark Lewis
33 1 4495 6761
Isabelle Curien
33 1 4495 6616
New York
Joel Crane
1 212 250 5253
Washington
Adam Sieminski, CFA
1 202 662 1624
All prices are those current at the end of the previous trading session unless otherwise indicated. Prices are sourced from
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be aware that the firm may have a conflict of interest that could affect the objectivity of this report.
Investors should consider this report as only a single factor in making their investment decision.
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DISCLOSURES AND ANALYST CERTIFICATIONS ARE LOCATED IN APPENDIX 1
11 January 2008 Commodities Outlook
Commodity Views
Energy
USD Level Δ wk Δ ytd 12M Low 12M High 5Y Avg View
WTI 96.33 -3.30% 0.36% 50.48 99.62 53.75
Industrial Metals
3M Fwd (USD/tonne) Level Δ wk Δ ytd 12M Low 12M High 5Y Avg View
Aluminium 2505 2.75% 3.99% 2395 2895 2066
Agriculture
Δ wk Δ ytd
st
1 nearby (USD) Level 12M Low 12M High 5Y Avg Comment
Corn 4.79 3.51% 5.10% 3.10 4.79 2.68
• If, on the other hand, rapid US rate cuts avert 40,000 GDP per capita based on PPP
South Korea (Year 0 = 1980)
a growth dip, the central scenario of DB’s US 35,000
Taiwan (Year 0 = 1980)
Economics team, we believe rallies in the 30,000
GDP per capita USD
urban population to rise to 55% by 2020, bringing the between 1% and 4% of total investments, or 4 to 12
urbanisation ratio towards those prevailing currently in times more important than is the case of China today.
Malaysia and the Philippines, Figure 2.
Figure 2: Asia’s march towards increased levels Figure 4: Olympic related investments
of urbanisation
5
100 Olympic-related investments as a % of total
investments during the five years prior to the event
80 4
60
3
40
2
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Since per capita energy consumption in urban areas is We also believe another major trend driving global
3.5 times more than that in rural areas, the urbanisation commodity markets will be increasing shortages of
trends is generating a sustained period of strong energy agricultural commodities most notably in China. Indeed
demand. Indeed assuming no change in energy rising incomes and declining levels of arable land per
efficiency and per capita income of USD20,000 by 2020 head of population in China are leading to a surge in
it would imply Chinese oil consumption of 20 million agricultural imports. We believe these trends will lead
barrels per day, roughly similar to US oil consumption to a further deterioration in the country’s agricultural
today. It is also sustaining strong consumption growth trade balance. Although there has been a recovery in
for industrial metals. Indeed we estimate that over agricultural land loss over the past few years, arable
80% of global demand for aluminium, iron ore and lead land per head per person has been on the decline for
over the 2007-08 will come from China, Figure 3. the past 30 years, Figure 5. Rapid urbanisation is likely
to sustain this trend, in our view.
Figure 5: China’s arable land per person is on the
Figure 3: Contribution of Chinese demand
decline
growth to global demand growth
Hectares of arable land per capita (lhs)
0.16 160
Copper 2007-08E
Total area under cultivation (million
0.15 hectares, rhs)
Zinc 155
0.14
Nickel
Lead 0.12
145
Iron ore 0.11
Aluminium
0.1 140
1978 1985 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006
0 20 40 60 80 100
Just as there have been fears of the US expansion Rising meat consumption is increasing the
running out of steam from December 2007 onwards, requirements for cattle feed. However, meat
there has also been concern that the conclusion of the consumption still remains low by international
Olympic Games in Beijing this summer could have a standards. Currently, per capita meat consumption in
negative effect on overall economic activity. We China is just 60kg annually. This represents just 60% of
disagree. Olympic related investments have accounted the world average and 20% of per capita meat
for only 0.3% of China’s total fixed asset investment consumption in North America.
over the past five years. In contrast, Games hosted in
Sydney, Seoul, Barcelona and Athens represented
Conclusion
We believe the credibility of commodities as a distinct
asset class was enhanced last year. The strong
performance of commodity index returns during
extreme financial market dislocation demonstrated by
the negative correlation of commodity returns with
more traditional asset classes. We expect this will only
encourage further inflows into the complex.
#2 Trade Recommendations
Commodity Directional Trades Alpha RV Plays
sector
Energy • Bullish uranium • Long DBLCI-CL crude oil index vs. short OIX
• Long Mar’09 WTI variance swap oil equity index
• Long Mar’09 US NG variance swap • Long Jun’08 vs. short Dec’08 WTI
• Long Sep’09 US NG variance swap • Long Dec’09 vs. short Dec’10 WTI
• Short Jan’08 & long Feb’08 NG contract, and
keep rolling the positions every month
• Long DBLCI-OY-NG vs. short S&P GSCI-NG
sub-indices
• Short Feb’09 and long Apr’09 contract
Precious Metals • Long gold & platinum • Long back-end copper vs. short back-end gold
• Take profit on long gold vol via
variance swap
• Scale up sell gold vol
Industrial Metals • Short front-end industrial metals in the • Long curve flattening
near term; position to go long • Sell copper vs. buy zinc
• Long back-end industrial metals
#3 Trade Review
Date Commodity Trades Trade Performance
Nov 2 2007 Dry Freight: Time to Take Breath, Bearish Freight Equities
The Baltic Dry Index rallied approximately 150% in the first 10
months of 2007. However, given Asian exchange rate strength,
signs of easing port congestion and a moderation in the degree
of backwardation in the freight curve we position for the freight
rally to take breath. In addition, Asian export growth, which has
been an important driver of dry freight rates in the past, was
also at risk from a downturn in US business confidence.
Maintain short.
Nov 2 2007 RV Dry Freight: Short Panamax vs. Long Handysize Index
In addition to our directional bearish trade on freight rates and
freight equities, we also recommended a relative value trade on
different freight indices to take advantage of the significant
divergence in performance between the various vessel types.
We believe the significant out-performance of Panamax over
Handsize vessels is unsustainable. Maintain position.
#3 Trade Review
Date Commodity Trades Trade Performance
June 8 2007 Calm Before The Storm? Long Gold Variance Swap
June marked the low point in gold implied vol. This trade has
performed as contagion from equity and FX markets spread into
the commodities complex and specifically gold. During the
period of extreme VIX and USDJPY volatility, gold prices traded
USD20 lower and implied vol rose. Since then the gold price
has broaken above USD800/oz which has pushed gold vol
higher despite a recovery in risk appetites. Given the extreme
positioning currently in the gold market as well as seasonal
trade in the EURUSD, we would recommend taking profit and
prepare to scale up sell. Take profit and scale up sell.
Feb 16 2007 RV metals: Long Copper Forward vs. Short Gold Forward
We recommended a long copper position and funded this via
gold where we were short term bearish. We believed forward
copper was undervalued while forward gold was overvalued,
given the high level of above ground stocks in gold compared to
a copper inventory-to-consumption ratio which had fallen to a
matter of days. This position also benefited from selling
contango and buying backwardation and therefore gaining
positive carry on both legs of the trade. Maintain position.
400
Total returns since
Last year proved to be another strong year in terms of the end of 2001
350
commodity index returns particularly when compared
with more traditional asset classes, Figure 1.
300
250
Figure 1: Asset class returns compared
200
2007 returns (%)
35 Bonds: DBIQ Global IG Sovereign 32.6
Emerging Markets: DBIQ EMLE 150
30 Foreign Exchange:DB Currency Returns Index
Equity:MSCI Global
25 Commodities: DBLCI-OY 100
DJAIGCI S&PGSCI LBCI RJ/CRB RICI DBLCI DBLCI-MR
20
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg (as of end 2007)
15 12.2
10
5.4 5.4
4.0
5 This divergence in part reflects the rapid development
0 of the commodity index space over the past five years
Bonds EM FX Equity Commodities with at least 12 new commodity indices being launch
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg over this period. Investors therefore need to be acutely
aware of the characteristics that distinguish the
numerous commodity indices in the marketplace.
Commodity returns have performed strongly despite The major determining features of a commodity index
the US sub-prime crisis and the increasing probability of are how many commodities are included and in what
a US recession. We believe this resilient index proportion, what is the selection process, which
performance during extreme financial market specific futures contracts are used for each individual
dislocation has only enhanced the appeal of commodity, how are these futures contracts rolled and
commodities as an event risk hedging asset class. are the commodities reset to base weights periodically?
The tendency of investors to be overly optimistic about Consequently, the universe of commodity indices can
asset classes which have been past winners and overly be classified according to three broad categories:
pessimistic about asset classes which have been past a) fixed weight and fixed roll index;
losers will encourage a new wave of risk capital to enter
b) fixed weight and dynamic roll index and
the complex, in our view. The risk of overshooting in
c) dynamic weight and fixed roll index.
The DBLCI-Mean Reversion and the DBLCI-MR ‘Plus’ We estimate that by the middle of this year, the DBLCI-
are therefore the only commodity indices not to adopt a MR will have increased its allocation to aluminium from
fixed commodity weight allocation, Figure 3. Instead 15% to approximately 45%. This would represent its
commodity weights on the DBLCI-MR are changed over largest allocation to this commodity since May 1992. At
time such that the index ‘over-weights’ cheap the same time, we expect the allocation to crude oil and
commodities and ‘under-weights’ expensive ones heating oil will be reduced from 65% to 35%.
according to a pre-defined mechanistic formula. Accordingly, the DBLCI-MR is indicating downside risks
to energy returns are mounting while aluminium returns
Figure 3: Agricultural commodity rallies will perform strongly.
compared
Rebalancing Launch Figure 4: Historical weights of the DBLCI-MR and
Index Rolling frequency frequency date expected change in allocations by June 2008
100%
Fixed weight, fixed roll index:
90%
Energy: monthly
80%
50%
S&P GSCI Monthly Annual Jan-91
40%
10%
LBCI Monthly Annual Dec-00
0%
MLCX Monthly Monthly Jun-06 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
WTI Heating Oil Gold Aluminium Wheat Corn
Daily rolling at
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg
UBS CMCI constant maturity Monthly Jan-07
Fixed weight, dynamic roll index We believe this rising allocation to aluminium may
DBLCI-OY Dynamic Annual May-06 prove a rewarding strategy during 2008 given tightening
DBLCI-OY fundamentals in the Chinese aluminium market. China
Broad Dynamic Annual Jan-07 is the world’s largest producer of both primary
aluminium and alumina, with an estimated market share
DBLCI-OY
of 33% and 26% respectively in 2007. China is also the
Balanced Dynamic Annual Jan-07
fastest growing market for aluminium demand, with
Dynamic weight, fixed roll index: consumption increasing by 20% and 24% in 2005 and
Energy: monthly 2006 respectively, with the level 2007 registering nearly
DBLCI-MR All others: annual No rebalancing Feb-03 39%. Consequently, China plays a critical role in the
Energy: monthly outlook for global aluminium prices.
DBLCI-MR
‘Plus’ All others: annual No rebalancing Jun-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg
As a result of significant smelter capacity growth, the
Chinese aluminium market has been persistently
Reweighting events on the DBLCI-MR take place when oversupplied in recent years. This has led the country
the one-year moving average price of a commodity is a to become a net exporter of primary aluminium since
whole multiple of 5% away from the five-year moving the beginning of 2001. However, this situation is
average. This strategy has proved rewarding over the changing as the Chinese authorities take steps to close
past two years as total returns on the DBLCI-MR have inefficient smelters and restrict the level of aluminium
risen 46.1% and 49.0% in 2006 and 2007 respectively. exports.
These steps have included: In terms of roll returns, forward curves are pointing to a
divergent outlook for this year. On the one hand, roll
• January 2005: The withdrawal of an 8% export tax
returns for wheat, crude oil and heating oil are positive,
rebate and the imposition of 5% export tariff
which we expect to be sustained throughout 2008.
• November 2006: An increase in the export tariff to Meanwhile roll returns are negative for gold, corn and
15%. In addition, the tax exemption for tolling of aluminium, a reflection of the contango term structure
primary aluminium (importing alumina duty free) and in these markets. Figure 6 estimates the implied roll
exporting with a rebate was withdrawn. return for the coming year assuming the forward curve
is unchanged from current levels. It also illustrates how
• August 2007: The removal of a 5% import tax on moving to a dynamic rolling futures schedule and
primary imports, the imposition of 15% tax on adopting the Optimum Yield technology can help boost
aluminium bars and rods, and the elimination of an roll returns.
8% export rebate from aluminium extrusion and
which became effective at the beginning of August.
Figure 6: Implied roll return for components of
• December 2007: imposed new industrial production the DBLCI with & without the OY technology
guidelines setting minimum capacity requirements
Implied roll return for 2008
for primary aluminium and alumina producers. 15% on current shape of the
forward curve
Implied roll return for 2008
10% using the Optimum Yield
These measures have been successful in reducing tecnologiy
100
To assess the outlook for commodity index returns we Heating Oil Negative Positive Neutral
On this basis, we expect total returns on the DBLCI-MR Figure 8 illustrates the performance of various alpha,
to rise 20% this year. However, given the increasing beta and enhanced beta commodity allocation
maturing of the current bull run in commodity prices we strategies. We find that since August 1997, there have
believe it is increasingly prudent to consider the been only four months were monthly returns of the
possibility of a period where commodity index returns DBLCI-MR ‘Plus’ has been -5% or less. This compares
turn negative over the next 24 month period. with 15 and 18 months for the DBLCI-MR and the S&P
GSCI respectively.
The DBLCI-MR ‘Plus’
To address the risk of a cyclical downturn in commodity
index returns we launched the DBLCI-MR ‘Plus’ index Conclusion
in June 2007. Its strategy is to achieve an optimal asset
In our view, the rapid development of the commodity
allocation between a commodity index, in this case the
index space over the past five years is a sign of the
DBLCI-MR, and T-bills (cash) by detecting cyclical
building credibility of commodities as a distinct asset
upswings and cyclical downturns in global commodity
class. However, it also introduces challenges for
markets.
investors in terms of selecting the correct index for
their investment objectives.
It achieves this by rebalancing between cash and
commodities according to their relative performance
over the previous 12 month period. Such that if the
Michael Lewis, (44) 20 7545 2166
DBLCI-MR has outperformed cash in all 12 months then
mchael.lewis@db.com
the index will be fully allocation to commodities and if
cash has out-performed commodities over the past year
it will have eliminated all exposure to commodities.
Figure 8: The comparative performance of various alpha and beta commodity allocation strategies
DB Commodity Booster Index - S&P GSCI TM 16.60% 17.01% 12.48% 73.36% -9.18% 9
S&P GSCI TM 7.66% 21.13% 3.83% 18.12% -14.41% 18
SM
DJ-AIGCI 8.07% 14.24% 4.23% 29.68% -7.54% 11
* annualised return based on total return and excess return; ** annualised vol of the daily lognormal returns
# calculated as a quotient of excess return and the volatility: ## based on total return; Data from August 1997 to 7 January 2008
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg
• Meanwhile we expect a falling US real If the US enters recession this month, then the S&P500
interest rate environment will be bullish will have fallen by 10% since the October 2007 peak
precious metal prices, with the euro and the and consequently in line with historical averages.
gold price at risk of overshooting this year. Moreover if this cycle conforms to historical averages
then the S&P500 will decline a further 18% from
• Although a US downturn may depress the oil current levels and hit this trough in July 2008, or seven
price, for as long as world GDP growth months after the economy has entered recession.
remains above 3%, we expect OPEC will be in
Of the group of industrial metals we believe copper is
a powerful position to defend any short term
most vulnerable in the event of a US recession. Figure
price weakness. We expect OPEC will be
3 highlights the average change in inventories of the six
quick to act to defend oil prices particularly in
LME metals in the 25 weeks before and the 75 weeks
an environment of US dollar overshooting to
after the last three US recessions. We find that copper
the downside.
inventories have been the most sensitive to a
• We see few contagion effects of a US slowdown in US economy activity, with inventories
recession on the agricultural complex and doubling within three months of the US entering
consequently we believe this sector recession. Meanwhile, lead, nickel and zinc inventories
possesses good diversification properties for have tended to be relatively unaffected in the months
investors. following recession.
Recession period S&P500 Peak to recession start From recession start to trough Total decline
S&P500
from peak to
peak trough
Start End Months # of months % decline # of months % decline trough
Jun-48 Oct-49 16 15-Jun-48 13-Jun-49 - - 13 -19.1% -20.6%
Jul-53 May-54 10 5-Jan-53 21-Sep-53 6 -9.1% 3 -5.6% -14.2%
Apr-57 Apr-58 12 2-Aug-56 21-Oct-57 8 -11.3% 7 -11.3% -21.3%
Apr-60 Feb-61 10 3-Aug-59 25-Oct-60 8 -8.7% 7 -5.6% -13.9%
Dec-69 Nov-70 11 29-Nov-68 26-May-70 12 -14.0% 6 -25.7% -36.1%
Nov-73 Mar-75 16 11-Jan-73 4-Oct-74 10 -10.4% 12 -42.1% -48.2%
Jan-80 Jul-80 6 13-Feb-80 27-Mar-80 - - 3 -9.0% -17.1%
Jul-81 Nov-82 16 28-Nov-80 12-Aug-82 7 -7.7% 14 -21.1% -27.1%
Jul-90 Mar-91 8 12-Jun-90 11-Oct-90 1 -1.8% 4 -17.8% -19.3%
Mar-01 Nov-01 8 24-Mar-00 21-Sep-01 11 -18.7% 7 -22.2% -36.8%
Average 11 8 -10.2% 7 -17.9% -25.4%
Jan-08? 9-Oct-07 Today 3 -9.8%
Source: DB Global Markets Research, NBER
Figure 3: The average change in LME inventories Figure 4: A pre-emptive Fed should help forestall
in the past three US recessions recession
The average change in LME inventories July 1981, July 1990 % %
400 in the weeks before and after the 1981, & March 2001 = 100
Real fed funds* (average of last 5 business cycles)
1990 and 2001 US recessions 6 Real fed funds* (current) 6
350
Aluminium 5 5
300 Copper
Lead 4 4
250 Nickel
Tin 3 3
200
Zinc
2 2
150
1 1
100 * deflated by core CPI
0 0
50
"0" represents historical onset of recession
-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 -1 (months) -1
Number of weeks before/after the US enters recession -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
In an environment where the euro is overshooting and However, if our US economists are correct and the US
central banks are poised to intervene to rescue the US can avert recession then we believe underlying
dollar, we believe OPEC will also aim to keep oil prices industrial metals demand remains strong, most notably
as high as possible in order to preserve their purchasing from China. Consequently we expect a strong recovery
power. We find that OPEC have a very good track in these metal prices during 2008-09
record in defending the oil price. Figure 6 examines the We expect oil demand fundamentals will only start to
performance of the crude oil price in the two weeks deteriorate if world growth falls below 4%. However,
before and two to three months after the cartel have we expect OPEC would only struggle to defend the oil
agreed production cuts to defend the oil price. price if global growth falls below 3%. Consequently,
We find that since the early 1990s, the cartel has a 70- we see little downside risks to our current oil price
80% success rate in defending the oil price. The two forecasts.
years here the cartel has failed were in 1998 and 2001,
periods where world GDP growth fell below 3%. On
current forecasts we expect world GDP growth to rise
4.5% in 2008 and consequently from a demand Trade recommendations:
perspective indicated few bearish forces for the oil price.
• Long gold. However, be wary of a
Figure 6: The performance of the WTI crude oil pocket of US dollar strength in the first
price before and after an OPEC quota reduction four weeks of this year.
150 Mar-93 Apr-98 Jul-98 Apr-99 • Long back-end industrial metals. Look
WTI oil price=100 in the day before quota reduction
140
to go long front end aluminium and
Feb-01 Apr-01 Sep-01 Jan-02
130
copper prices as US recession risks start
120
Nov-03 Apr-04 to fade.
110
100
90
1998
80
70
Michael Lewis, (44) 20 7545 2166
2001
60
michael.lewis@db.com
-14 -7 0 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70
Number of trading days before and after OPEC quota reduction
50
Duration of current rally
either the most powerful or the most durable 40
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prices which began in November 2001 has Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg, IMF
been the most powerful and durable on
record. A similar distinction is held by copper • Indeed for the current rally in corn and wheat
which had a trough to peak rise of 570% prices to be the most powerful and durable in
between November 2001 and May 2006. history would require grain prices to rise a further
30-40% from here and price peaks to occur in
the first half of 2009. Soybeans and cotton
Figure 1: The magnitude of the current prices would have to rise 70% and 105% with
commodity price rally compared to historical price peaks occurring at the end of this year and
averages the first half of 2012 respectively.
1400 Average magnitude of price • In our view, this degree of price appreciation
rally since 1970 (%)
1200
may prove too conservative as it fails to take
Magnitude of current rally (%) into account that agricultural commodity
1000
prices in real terms are still cheap. If
800 agricultural prices hit all time highs in real terms
600 as has occurred in the energy and industrial
400
metals complex, then it would imply wheat, corn,
soybeans and cotton appreciating by another
200
130%, 175%, 240% and 375% respectively.
0 This would imply corn and wheat prices hitting
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Cr
The magnitude of the current rally is measured from the trough to the to USD3.22/lb and USD41/bushel respectively.
peak, which for many industrial metals occurred in 2006
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Bloomberg, IMF Michael Lewis, (44) 20 7545 2166
michael.lewis@db.com
steadily into the mainstream of geopolitical discourse in aggressively for rights to explore. Wood Mackenzie
the producing nations. also gave warning that exploration costs could rise even
further, as the most recent activity was still benefiting
Figure 2: Global F&D costs headed to USD30
from substantially better terms negotiated in the late
30 USD per boe (constant 2006 dollars)
1990s. High oil prices are encouraging host
governments to further tighten fiscal terms.
25
Our projections for real 2007-2015 F&D costs assume
20 15% rises in 2007 and 2008, 10% in 2009, 5% in 2010,
and 2.5% per year for 2011-15. This would push F&D
15
costs over USD20/bbl now, over UDS25/bbl by 2010,
10
and toward USD30/bbl by 2015.
0
90 2007E - 2015E
1980-82 1987-89 1994-96 2001-03 2008-10E
80
consumption in the US has added a strong amount of flat but the rest of the world is still growing. We expect
rising demand momentum into the markets. On the that higher prices and more sluggish economies are
supply side, oil production has shifted towards more likely to result in a tempering of the growth rates seen
technically challenging projects and less market- over the last few years that dramatically reduced spare
oriented economies. Disappointments in reaching production capacity.
output goals seem to have become the rule rather than
the exception. Lower supply and demand elasticities Supply. Non-OPEC supply growth over the period
have lengthened the time needed to rebalance. 2005-07 was significantly lower than the rates achieved
from 2000-04. We expect that in the 2008-09
Market Structure. The excess capacity in both timeframe, non-OPEC annual production growth could
production and refining during the 1980s and 1990s has approach the 0.8-1.0mmb/d range, a doubling of the
been eliminated. Getting this back has proved to be an yearly volumetric growth in 2005-07. Within OPEC,
enormous struggle. Some of the losses were Angola is streaming new output and in Saudi Arabia,
economic in nature- the low oil prices of the late 1990s capacity enhancing oil projects are well underway,
led to a period of low capital investment. Some of it significant NGL additions are expected, and natural gas
was political- as Peter Davies at BP has written, the developments could free up oil for export. Virtually all
"declines in Iraq and Venezuela were unforeseen and of the Angola and Saudi projects are light crude. The
almost certainly unforeseeable" while in our own years 2008-09 should show better production response
opinion the same could be said for the refinery than what has been delivered over the last few years.
accidents and weather interruptions that have plagued
the downstream sector. Refining. Although the potential for slippage and
accidents is still very high, downstream analysts at the
Financial/ Trade. Commodities (including energy) are IEA in Paris have compiled a data set of 2008-2010
increasingly being viewed as a standard asset class by refinery projects suggesting that capacity growth is
investors. The flow of funds into the sector has made it likely to exceed 1.5mmb/d each year over that period.
more prone to volatility. The decline in the US dollar With global demand likely to grow below that rate over
has likely encouraged demand while simultaneously the same time frame, the potential exists for growth in
reducing producers’ revenue. More restrictive trade spare refinery capacity.
practices have limited the ability of industry to respond
to these forces. Inventories. We believe that a large part of the
inventory drop over the second half of 2007 can be
Geopolitics. From the perspective of the OECD attributed to the shift in the futures curve into
nations, energy resources are increasingly concentrated backwardation. The financial incentive for the
in countries that have a mixed record of cooperation companies to reduce stocks is high. The shape of the
with traditional international energy companies. futures curve can change rapidly and dramatically, and a
Geopolitical flare-ups in countries like Nigeria have shift toward a flatter curve could result is a rebuilding of
reduced production. The threat of a military inventories and less apparent upward pressure on oil
confrontation (with the potential for enormous impacts prices.
in the energy markets) between Iran and the US rises
and falls with diplomatic setbacks and successes. The US Dollar. There is significant risk of US dollar
rate of production growth in Russia appears to have overshooting to the downside (bullish for oil) but this is
been slowed by that country's move to reassert central most likely in an environment of more tepid global
control over its resources. Iraq has not managed to growth. The emerging market currencies could be the
return to pre-war production levels nor has Venezuela more relevant forward-looking driver of the dollar as
returned to pre-strike levels. purchasing power transfers to them. Many EM
currencies, especially in Asia have further to rise against
How we might get back to USD75/bbl the dollar according to Deutsche Bank's FX strategists.
The case for weakening oil prices ultimately must rest This would imply continued upward pressures on oil
on a reversal or slowing in the drivers that took oil to prices but likely less than recently from the slide in the
USD100/bbl. dollar against the major currencies. The US dollar has
displayed a tendency to rise and fall for extended
Demand. Despite evidence that China and other Asian periods of time. On average these cycles last for seven
nations are less tied to economic conditions in the years, implying the current US dollar downtrend will
OECD countries, it seems hard to believe that Asia start to become long in the tooth during 2008.
could completely escape the impact of a slowdown in
US GDP. Our economic forecasting teams expect a However, it is worth noting that historically bear US
contraction in the US but not a severe recession, and dollar cycles have tended to persist for longer than bull
they see few signs of significant slowdown in runs with the 1985 downtrend enduring for 10 years.
China/Asia in the near term. US oil demand has gone The upswing and subsequent downswing in the US
dollar between 1995 and today bears a striking Figure 4: Oil demand and supply (mmb/d)
resemblance to the 1978-1995 US dollar cycle. If
2006 2007 2008E 2009E 2010E 2015E
history repeats itself then it implies the US dollar could
remain under pressure in 2008 and 2009, but could then DEMAND
United States 20.7 20.7 20.8 21.0 21.2 21.3
return to a period of strength (and lower oil prices) in OECD Europe 15.6 15.3 15.5 15.6 15.6 15.6
Other OECD 13.0 13.1 13.3 13.1 13.1 13.2
the 2011-13 time period.
Total OECD 49.3 49.2 49.6 49.6 49.9 50.1
USSR (former) 4.1 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3
Funds Flow. We view the enormous move of funds China 7.2 7.5 8.0 8.4 8.8 9.2
Non-OECD Asia ex-China 8.9 9.1 9.4 9.8 10.1 10.3
into commodities in somewhat the same way as Other Non-OECD 11.1 12.0 12.4 12.4 12.7 13.0
demand growth in Asia. The secular element to this is TOTAL DEMAND 84.7 85.7 87.3 88.4 89.8 91.2
large. "Commodities as an asset class" is bringing SUPPLY
investment-grade money into the complex, but the United States 7.4 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.5
OECD Europe 5.2 4.9 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.1
speculative element exists as well. Low interest rates Other OECD 7.4 7.5 7.4 7.6 7.7 7.8
and a low dollar have encouraged speculative activity in Total OECD 20.0 19.8 19.6 19.7 19.6 19.4
USSR (former) 12.2 12.7 13.2 13.8 14.3 14.6
oil, but a turn upward in the dollar could easily reverse Other Non-OECD 15.3 15.3 15.9 15.9 15.9 15.7
the flow of hedge fund investments in oil. Processing & Biofuels 2.2 2.5 2.8 2.8 2.9 3.0
Total Non-OPEC 49.7 50.3 51.4 52.2 52.6 52.6
Geopolitics. Rebuilding the 500kb/d of production lost OPEC CRUDE OIL 28.2 30.4 30.7 31.2 32.0 33.1
OPEC NGLs 4.7 4.8 5.3 5.5 5.7 6.0
in Nigeria is proving massively difficult, but output TOTAL SUPPLY 82.5 85.6 87.5 88.9 90.3 91.7
losses do not seem to be getting worse. The attempt Implied Stk Chng -2.1 -0.1 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5
of the new government to restore stability in the Niger Source: IEA, DB Global Markets Research
Delta has had some positive impact (fewer instances of
violence, minor improvements in oil output). The Global oil demand
potential for this to change substantially for the better Our demand forecasts are based on the assumption
by 2009 is good, in our view. The situation in Iraq has that global GDP does not stumble badly. According to
also improved marginally over the last several months. the IMF, real growth in global GDP over the period
Oil production had jumped from 2.0mmb/b in August to 1980-2006 grew at 3.5% per annum. From 1995-2006
over 2.3mmb/d in November. the rate was 4.0% per annum. The IMF is estimating
even stronger worldwide GDP growth at 4.9% pa in
The Iranian nuclear standoff, which is likely to remain 2007-08. Global oil demand from 1980-2006 grew at
unresolved (and thus supportive for oil prices) in 2008, 1.0% p.a. From 1995-2006 it accelerated to 1.8% p.a.
could enter a period of intense new negotiations after Our estimates for average growth in 2007-08 for oil
the new US president takes office in January 2009. average circa 1.6%. Assuming that global GDP
There are many who believe that a fresh diplomatic averages about 4% p.a. over the period to 2015, we
push from the US might encourage the emergence of a would expect oil demand to grow approximately 1.7%
"grand bargain" that would satisfy everybody, including each year.
Israel. The most likely timeframe for such a
development would be 2009. Global oil supply
Relatively strong non-OPEC liquids (crude oil,
condensate, NGLs, and biofuels) will characterize the
period out to 2010. Over this 3-year period, we
estimate about 2.0mmb/d of growth. Above-ground
risk are greater threats to this performance than the
problems posed by resource limits or other below-
ground issues. The years after 2010 are murkier. Our
country and regional non-OPEC supply forecast suggest
that output could peak sometime between 2010 and
2015 unless “not in my backyard” restrictions in many
countries are relaxed.
purchasing power into deteriorate to the 1980-81 low of Figure 6: US natural gas balances (bcf/d)
325 barrels, we would need to see oil at circa
2005 2006 2007 2008E 2009E 2010E 2015E
USD130/bbl in 2008 or USD150/bbl in 2012.
CONSUMPTION
Residential 13.2 11.9 13.3 13.5 13.7 13.9 14.8
Figure 5: Oil cost relative to G7 income Commercial 8.4 7.9 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 9.3
Industrial 18.1 18.1 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.5 19.0
G7 per capita income divided by the price of oil Electric Utilities 16.1 17.1 17.8 18.2 18.6 18.9 20.9
3000 Other 4.5 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.3
Oil price decline helps to
boost the purchasing Total Demand 60.2 59.8 62.7 63.3 64.0 64.7 68.3
2500
Number of barrels of oil
1000 Total Dry Gas Production 49.7 50.7 51.3 51.6 51.3 50.8 53.9
Higher oil prices cut
the purchasing power Net Storage Withdraw 0.1 -1.2 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
500
of a G7 consumer Other & Balance 0.5 1.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0 Total Domestic Supply 50.4 50.6 52.7 51.8 51.3 50.8 53.9
1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 Exports 2.0 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.7
70 0%
In the subsequent four year period the forecasting error 60 18%
has not improved. For the entire 1999 to 2007 period 50
22%
the analyst community has always under-estimated the 40
-11%
22% 22% 0%
final oil price and by an average of 31%, Figure 1. 30
39%
20
10
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008f
Figure 1: Analysts have systematically under-
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Reuters
estimated the strength in crude oil prices since
1999
Consequently if we apply this forecasting error to the
100
31%
Brent forecast at the start of the year current Cal’08 Brent swap price yields an expected
90
Outturn average oil price for 2008 of USD110/barrel. Even at
80 Average forecasting error 1999-2007 = 31%
18%
these levels, the oil price would still be cheaper relative
70 15% to per capita income than it was at the beginning of the
1980s.
USD/barrel
60 43%
50
20 43%
10
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008f
#9 US Power Wind is another 31% of the mix (40 GW), but for peak
availability purposes, only 10-15% (4-6 GW) of that can
A Moratorium on Coal? be reliably counted. Capacity factors are determined by
dividing actual energy produced in a given period by the
• With electricity demand growing at 1.7%
maximum possible output running full time at rated
annually, we believe approximately 75GW of
power. Typical annual average power capacity factors
capacity must be added to the system
are 20-40% for wind, but over shorter periods of time,
between 2008 and 2013.
installed wind power is often discounted much further,
• Nearly 60% of the 130 GW of capacity although this may be improving as geographic diversity
additions planned for the US over the next five and grid inter-connections are improving.
years are coal and wind projects.
• Permits for coal power plant projects are being
denied by state public utility and Figure 1: US electric power capacity growth
environmental commissions that find 2008-2013 (GW)
themselves under serious pressure to respond
Other
to climate change warnings. Renew able,
14.6, 11% Coal, 35.7, 28%
• Wind power is typically de-rated by 85%to
90% for purposes of calculation peak load
needs. Speeding up “other renewable fuel”
projects and nuclear is not practical.
Wind, 40.4, 31%
• More intensive use of existing natural gas fired
generation and more gas new-build may be
required to avoid electricity shortfalls. Natural Gas,
Nuclear, 1.2, 1% 36.9, 29%
• In our view, natural gas futures prices for the
period after 2010 do not reflect this problem. Source: Wood Mackenzie, DB Global Markets Research
US electricity consumption grew by annual rates of If there is any slippage in delivery on the renewable
4.2%, 2.6%, and 2.3% in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, projects (another 15 GW), the reliability problem gets
respectively according to data from the US DOE/EIA. worse. Conservation (or less demand) would help, but
The EIA is assuming a long-term growth rate of about probably not soon enough to have a significant impact.
1.3% per year in the new Annual Energy Outlook 2008 A total of 12 GW of new-build nuclear capacity has been
which leads to lower projections of electricity proposed for 2015–2016, but this comes too late to
generation. Because of relatively strong near-term GDP meet demand requirements to 2013-14.
assumptions, however, the EIA is assuming a “normal”
growth rate of 1.8% for electricity use in 2009. Recent
forecasts by Wood Mackenzie put US electricity sales There are a number of regions in the US that soon will
growth at 2.0% annually to 2010 and 1.7% per year fall short of the generation capacity levels required to
thereafter. On a base of circa 975 GW of installed net maintain a 15% reserve margin for electricity. Florida,
summer capacity, this implies a need for 15-20 GW per New York, and significant portions of the Mid-Atlantic,
year of growth. Southeast, and Midwest regions could fall below their
target capacity margins within two or three years if
additional supply-side and demand-side resources are
There are approximately 130 GW of electric power not brought into service.
currently under development or proposed in the US
out to the year 2013 according to estimates by
WoodMac (see Figure 1). Coal plants are 28% of the Besides turning out the lights, the only answer, in our
mix (36 GW), but acceptance of the climate change view, is more gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine
message in the US appears to have placed an effective (CCGT) cogeneration projects. This will be the only way
moratorium on new coal projects. It is almost to add the capacity that can be put in service between
impossible to get a public utility commission to grant a now and 2013.
permit for a new coal plant that is not carbon capture
and sequestration (CCS) "capable". Since mid-2007,
plans for new coal plants in Kansas, Wyoming,
Oklahoma, North Dakota, Texas and Florida have been Adam Sieminski (1) 212 250 2928
rejected by state utility and environment commissions adam.sieminski@db.com
or cancelled due to regulatory uncertainties.
Figure 2: Why USD75 oil in 2006 was different absolute inventory level at Cushing remains low and the
from USD75 oil in 2007? This chart shows why: aggregate US crude oil inventory level keeps on falling.
the oil market supply-demand balance was tight
in 2007, but, it was not in 2006
Figure 4: WTI term structure vs. Cushing crude
oil inventory level
Cushing Crude Stocks (million bbls, lhs) -4.0
-2.0
25
-1.0
20 contango
0.0
1.0
15
10 3.0
Jan-04 May-04 Sep-04 Jan-05 May-05 Sep-05 Jan-06 May-06 Sep-06 Jan-07 May-07 Sep-07 Jan-08
335
320
Figure 3: Historical WTI prices vs. forward curve
305
Historic WTI Price versus Forward Curve (USD/bbl)
100 290
90
275
80
260
70 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
40
For the oil bulls, we believe a curve play offers better
30
risk adjusted returns than an outright long. For new
20 longs, we would recommend travelling down the curve
10 and going long the spread at the deferred part of the
Aug-84
Aug-85
Aug-86
Aug-87
Aug-88
Aug-89
Aug-90
Aug-91
Aug-92
Aug-93
Aug-94
Aug-95
Aug-96
Aug-97
Aug-98
Aug-99
Aug-00
Aug-01
Aug-02
Aug-03
Aug-04
Aug-05
Aug-06
Aug-07
Aug-08
Aug-09
94.0
•
92.0
Short Jan’08 and long Feb’08 future
91.0
contract, and keep rolling the position
90.0
every month
Dec-09
89.0
88.0
Dec-10
• Long DBLCI-OY-NG vs. short S&P GSCI-
NG sub-indices
87.0
•
Feb-08 Aug-08 Feb-09 Aug-09 Feb-10 Aug-10 Feb-11 Aug-11
Short Feb’09 and long Apr’09 contract
Source: DB Global Markets Research
2.0
1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
contango
-3.0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Figure 8: Dwindling seasonality in the US natural The first strategy is to go short the Jan’08 and long
gas market Feb’08 NG futures contract, and keep rolling these
positions every month. However, we prefer to
implement this strategy via indices to save us from the
strong winter premium trouble of rolling the futures every month.
2005 over summer
winter premium across the whole
term structure has declined since
The second strategy is to go long the DBLCI-OY-NG
2004, and long-dated gas is now sub-indices and go short the S&P-GSCI-NG sub-
trading in contango to the front-end
indices. We believe the OY technology will outperform
a pre-defined fixed rolling strategy implemented by the
S&P GSCI which rolls the front-line contract every
almost zero
winter premium
month. In a contango environment this becomes a
losing strategy as it leads to a substantial negative roll
2006
return.
2007
50%
March 1, 2008 with 1600bcf of gas in storage. If it stays Long SPGSCI NG index
-100%
warm this winter, we would expect to see even more Long DBLCI-OY-NG index
billion cubic feet The third strategy is to go short the Feb’09 and long
3500
the Apr’09 NG contract, this expresses our view that
3100 the winter premium will narrow further, similar to what
2700 has happened over the past few winters.
2300
Trade recommendations:
1900
250
Wheat Mar'08-Dec'08 time
Trade recommendations: 200
spread (USD/Bu)
profit
Wheat Dec'07-Dec'08 time
•
spread (USD/Bu)
Short Mar’08 vs. Long Dec’08 or 150 Trade entry: 14-Sep-07
50
backwardation
In September this year we outlined why we believed
0
the high spread between this year and next year wheat
contango
was unsustainable, since it was wide enough to -50
encourage immediate substitution, discourage inventory Apr-06 Jul-06 Oct-06 Jan-07 Apr-07 Jul-07 Oct-07
During the last few weeks of 2008 the spread has 850 Jan 2008
Corn: Good News or Bad News? Indeed the total area harvested in the US for corn,
soybeans and wheat has stayed relatively stable since
o Will backwardation finally arrive? 1990, Figure 15. Consequently any increases in one
crop tend to occur at the expense of another.
80
70
on the year. 20
10
0
1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 13: Mar’08 corn prices
Source: USDA, DB Global Markets Research
500
The game of musical chairs between US corn, wheat
Corn Mar'08 (USD/Bu) and soybean production has intensified over the past
450 Trade entry: 05-Oct-07 few years due to the substantial divergence in price
Current level: 08-Jan-08
trends in these markets. For example, in 2006 soybean
400
acreage gained at the expense of wheat and corn
acreage. However in 2007, the strong rally in corn
prices during the previous year (81%) opposed to the
350
disappointing gains in soybean prices (+14%) led to US
farmers to shift plantings our of soybeans and into corn.
300
Figure 16: US crop plantings: a game of musical
chairs: A crop’s gain is another’s loss, as
250
Mar-06 Jun-06 Sep-06 Dec-06 Mar-07 Jun-07 Sep-07 Dec-07 indicated by the changes in area harvested each
Source: DB Global Markets Research year
10
Year-on-year changes in area harvested
Hectares (million)
In our view, the weakness in corn prices during the 8
Corn Soybean Wheat
second quarter of 2007 was mainly driven by a surge in 6
US corn production, Figure 14 which had been triggered larger area
4
by US farmers switching out of certain crop production harvested
0
Figure 14: US corn production by year
-2
smaller area
US corn production -4 harvested
13.4
13.0 2007-08 -6
2004 2005 2006 2007
12.6
2004-05 Source: USDA, DB Global Markets Research
12.2
Bushels (billions)
11.8
2005-06
11.4 Going into 2008, we believe the game of musical chairs
11.0
is likely to continue but this time corn acreage is cut and
plantings recover in soybeans and wheat. Therefore,
10.6 2006-07
together with the increasingly tight market in China
10.2
M J J A S O N D J F M M J J
which we believe is set to become a net importer in
Month US corn production estimate by the USDA w as made corn over the next year, we are positioning for the corn
Source: USDA, DB Global Markets Research price to rally further and the corn curve to flip into
backwardation.
2,600
2,500
Trade recommendations:
2,400
around this theme mainly by either going long the back- 2,800
end of the curve or via curve plays. Indeed, industrial 11-May-2007
2,700
metal curves have flattened substantially in both
periods of rising and falling markets. Now that the 2,600
16-Jan-2007
curve has flattened, in this section we are outlining our 2,500
expectation for metal curves during 2008.
2,400
2,300
Aluminum 6-Nov-2007
2,800
The most dramatic curve moves have taken place in the
aluminium market as shown in Figure 17. Aluminum 2,700
Copper Nickel
Copper was also no exception to this curve flattening The same trend has occurred, but, at a different time.
trend, albeit at a slower pace. Copper spent the first 10 Nickel prices surged during the first part of 2007
months of 2007 trading in backwardation, Figure 20. peaking at USD51,600/tonne. It is was therefore no
Subsequent to the October sell-off the copper curve surprise that the nickel curve steepened during this rally,
had flattened substantially and currently front-end Figure 22.
copper is trading in a very small contango.
7,000
Figure 22: Nickel forward curves Jan-May 2007,
6,500 backwardation was the norm
60,000
6,000 Nickel forward curves (Jan'07-May'07)
55,000 11-May-2007
5,500
50,000
5,000
6-Feb-2007
45,000
4,500
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
forward month 40,000
30,000
Figure 21: Copper forward curves, Oct-Dec 2007,
9-Jan-2007
copper finally joined the curve flattening camp 25,000
7,500
Figure 23: Nickel forward curve Jun-Dec 2007,
curve has flattened since the sell-off in June and
7,000
has never turned back
55,000
Nickel forward curves (Jun'07-Dec'07)
6,500 June 2007
50,000
18-Dec-2007
45,000
6,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
forward month 40,000
Source: DB Global Markets Research
35,000
30,000
25,000
Jul - Dec 2007 the nickel forwad curve has stayed flat 28-Dec-2007
for the second half of 2007
20,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
forward month
20
4,000
#11 Commodity Volatility While the longer dated implied vol remains higher than
the realised vol, this gap has been closing, Figure 2.
A Mixed View
Figure 2: WTI 12M implied vs. realised vol
Trade recommendations:
Crude oil
• Long Mar’09 variance swap
US natural gas:
• Long Mar’09 variance swap
• Long Sep’09 variance swap
Gold
• Take profit on long gold variance swap
• Scale up sell
Industrial metals
• Aluminium vol offers good value vs.
copper and nickel vol Source: DB Global Markets Research
25.0
65% 65%
Oil implied vol cone: current curve vs. past 6-year distribution
22.5
60% 60%
The blue boxplot for each month shows:
i) the interquartile range (blue box) 20.0
55% ii) the 5-95 percentile range (whisker) 55%
iii) the median of the 6-year history (dashed line) 17.5
50% 50%
Median
15.0
45%
09-Jan-06 45%
09-Jan-07 12.5
35% 35%
7.5
Oct-03 Apr-04 Oct-04 Apr-05 Oct-05 Apr-06 Oct-06 Apr-07 Oct-07
30% 30%
Dec-03 Dec-04 Sep-05 Dec-05 Jan-06 Mar-06 Jun-06
Sep-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Mar-07 Jun-07 Sep-07 Oct-07
25% 25%
Nov-07 Dec-07 Jan-08 Dec-08 Jun-09 Dec-09
US natural gas: Like WTI, go long back-end vol via The realised vol of a range of fixed dated nat gas
variance swap. contract is summarised in Figure 6. There is a
After the spike to USD15/mmBtu in December 2005 substantial upward journey of each contract as it
natural gas has spent the last two years trading in a approaches its expiry date. All contracts except one has
very tight range, Figure 4. Other than the occasional realised vol finished above 30%.
swings natural gas prices have been kept prisoner in
the USD6-8/mmBtu range for two years despite the Figure 6: US NG dated contracts realised vol
historical tendency for natural gas to be the most
Natural gas 260 day realised volatility
volatile commodity and the market characterised with 50.0
40.0
Figure 4: US natural gas price
35.0
16 30.0
Natural Gas price
14 25.0
12 20.0
15.0
10
USD/mmBtu
10.0
8 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
2
Although the natural gas market has been lacklustre for
0 the past two years we believe spike risk has not been
1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 totally eliminated. In fact, as discussed in the next
Source: DB Global Markets Research article , the nat gas vol skew currently shows a
substantial bias to upside price risk. We expect
Range bound trading naturally leads to a decline of the weather will remain a key driver and with the dwindling
realized volatility and in tandem the implied vol. Figure seasonality we believe going long variance swap offers
5 shows that the current vol term structure is good potential for vol pickups.
substantially lower than the year-ago one. However,
the nat gas vol term structure remains steeply Among the contracts we believe the Mar’09 and Sep’09
backwardated despite front-end trading substantially variance swap offers best value. Realized vol of the
lower. September contract is the highest with Sep’06 finishing
at 49% and Sep’07 at 38%, while Mar’06 at 42% and
Figure 5: US natural gas implied vol forward Mar’07 at 40%. Mar’09 contract includes next winter
which is a plus but implied vol is trading higher at 36%,
curve, current vs. year-ago
this compares to Sep’09 trading at 30% which might
also benefit from summer hurricanes activity.
Gold vol: take profit and scale up sell Base metals: Aluminium vol offers good value vs.
We bought gold vol in June 2007 close to the low and copper and nickel vol
therefore we were well positioned for the risk aversion Among the base metals complex, only aluminium
that swept through global financial markets over the implied vol is trading within the box which represents
summer and the contagion effects that ensued on the interquartile range of 6-year worth of data. Copper,
precious metals volatility. zinc, and nickel vol are all trading at or above the
interquartile range.
This trade has performed as contagion from equity and
FX markets spread into the commodities complex and Figure 9: Aluminium volatility level
specifically gold. During the period of extreme VIX and
USDJPY volatility, gold prices traded lower and implied 34%
Aluminium implied vol cone: current curve vs. past distribution
34%
vol rose subsequently.
31% 31%
28% 28%
Figure 7: 12M gold vol
25% 25%
30% Trade
Gold 12M implied vol 22% 22%
Opened
28%
19% 19%
10% 10%
22%
M01 M02 M03 M06 M09 M12 M24 M27
6-year median 07-Dec-07 09-Jan-08
20%
16%
Figure 10: Copper volatility level
14%
30% 30%
Gold implied vol cone: current curve vs. past distribution
28% 28%
26% 26%
24% 24%
22% 22%
20% 20%
18% 18%
16% 16%
14% 14%
12% 12%
10% 10%
1M 2M 3M 6M 1Y 2Y 3Y 4Y
6-year median 04-Dec-07 04-Jan-08
Source: DB Global Markets Research • Aluminium vol offers good value vs.
copper and nickel vol
45% 45%
40% 40%
35% 35%
30% 30%
25% 25%
20% 20%
M01 M02 M03 M06 M09 M12 M24 M27
6-year median 07-Dec-07 9-Jan-08
#12 Skew View & Spike Risk B. Spike Risk for Oil & Gas
What Are Option Markets Saying? • According to the options market skew, there
is a 10% chance that the Dec’09 WTI contract
A. Market Positioning Risks will expire below USD61/bbl or above
USD149/bbl, against the futures price of
• Net speculative positioning data provide a USD92/bbl.
good indication of market sentiment and
directional views among the speculative • Similarly, for US natural gas, our model
community, in our view. indicates that the Dec’09 NG contract has a
10% chance that it might expire below
• Alternatively, the market bias of a particular USD5.7/mmBtu or above USD18.9/mmBtu,
commodity can also be inferred from the futures reference at USD9.6/mmBtu.
options volatility skew.
• We believe combining the vol skew with the
speculative positioning data provide a more A. Market Positioning Risks
comprehensive indication of the overall Assessing market sentiment and positioning is very
market positioning and sentiment. crucial to any investment or hedging decision because
while it is nice to ride on the trend but risk also
• For example, currently speculators are net increases substantially for over-crowded trade. The
long EUR according to the IMM data while very first stop for market positioning is always the
the EURUSD options skew has shown the positioning data reported by the CFTC, Commodity
strongest favour towards EUR put options Futures Trading Commission.
(USD call options) since November 2000.
• IMM bulls plus options bears mean the
market is more balanced in our view and Alternatively, the market bias of a particular commodity
therefore not as one-sided as implied by the can also be inferred from the options volatility skew.
IMM data alone. That is, euro bulls are We believe combining the vol skew with the
buying puts to hedge their directional long speculative positioning data provide a more
position in our view. comprehensive indication of the overall market
positioning and sentiment.
• On the other hand, in the gold market, both
the CFTC net speculative positioning and
options skew are overtly bullish gold and so To take the currency market as an example, as shown
helping to propel the gold price to new highs in Figure 1, currently speculators are net long EUR and
and possibly above what is implied by the indeed the long position has been intact since early
current level of the US dollar. 2006.
• Extreme one-sided bullishness combined
with the tendency of the USD to strengthen
in the first four weeks of January suggests to Figure 1: Speculative EUR Positions
us that the gold price is most vulnerable to a
sell-off currently. If a correction were to 140 Net non-commercial positions on IMM, (lhs)
1.36
occur we believe this would simply deliver 120 EUR/USD, (rhs)
another opportunity to buy given our 1.28
100
medium term bullish view towards the
80 1.20
precious metals sector.
60
• In the crude oil market, speculators are mildly Net long 1.12
However, this bullishness is not shared by the currency In fact, our DB Positioning Indices, which take account
options market. Figure 2 compares the latest vol skew of the IMM, CTA, real-money investor positions, option
of the EURUSD 12-month option with the one six risk reversals and weekly analyst survey data, is
months ago. In July 2007 the vol skew is relatively showing an overall short position in the euros.
balanced between calls and puts option reflecting the
then range bound market during the first half of 2007.
The current vol skew has shown a strong favour Figure 4: DB Positioning Indices (DB PI*)
towards put option.
2.5
EURUSD 12M vol skew
07-Jan-08
2.0
30-Jul-07
deviation from ATMF (vols)
1.5
1.0
stronger put skew
0.5
Source: as of January 7, 2008, DB Global Markets Research
*The DB PI comprises of positioning and sentiment data from five key
0.0
segments of the FX markets. We use IMM, CTA and real-money investor
positions as indicators of positioning; option risk reversals and weekly
-0.5 analyst survey results as measures of sentiment. Each of the five inputs is
10P 25P ATMF 25C 10C ranked on a scale of -10 and +10, where +10 is the most bullish that
segment has been and -10 the most bearish. The DBFX PI is then simply
Source: DB Global Markets Research the average of these inputs.
Indeed, the EURUSD options skew is showing the Gold: CFTC vs. skew view
strongest favour towards EUR put options (USD call
options) since November 2000 as indicated by the 12- This balanced view however is not shared by the gold
month 25-delta risk reversal trading at the lowest level market despite the currency move is a big driver of the
in 7-years as shown in Figure 3. gold price in our view.
-0.50
-1.00
Jan-99 Dec-99 Nov-00 Oct-01 Sep-02 Aug-03 Jul-04 Jun-05 May-06 Apr-07
Figure 5: EURUSD Risk-Reversal and Gold RR Figure 7: Gold 12M skew favours calls
normally tracks each other – biggest divergence
10.0
seen in years Gold 12M vol skew
stronger call skew
3 0.2 2.0
0.0
2
0.0
-0.2
1
-0.4 -2.0
0 10P 25P ATMF 25C 10C
-0.6
Source: DB Global Markets Research
-1 -0.8
Nov-03 May-04 Nov-04 May-05 Nov-05 May-06 Nov-06 May-07 Nov-07
150
650
120
90
550
60
30
450
0
-30 350
-60 S hor t
-90 250
J an-00 J an-01 J an-02 J an-03 J an-04 J an-05 J an-06 J an-07 J an-08
Crude oil: CFTC vs. skew view Figure 11: US natural gas speculative positions
In the crude oil market, speculators are mildly long
70 K Co ntracts 17
while the options market has a strong favour on calls. US$ /mmB tu
50
15
30 Long
13
10
Figure 9: WTI speculative positions
11
-10
The crude oil skew in fact has moved from a strong put 6.0%
24-Aug-07
deviation from ATMF
0.0%
-4.0%
10.0% 07-Jan-08
WTI vol skew (Dec'08) 10P 20P 30P ATM 30C 20C 10C
24-Aug-07
8.0%
Source: DB Global Markets Research
deviation from ATMF
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
-2.0%
4P 15P 28P ATMF 36C 19C 5C
B. Spike Risk for Oil & Gas Figure 14: US Natural gas probability density
function –very fat right tail as well
Other than position bias, the vol skew, and in particular
Probability Density Function: US Natural Gas
the fatness of the tails, also provides useful information
on price spike risk.
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
According to the options market skew, there is a 10% Skew surface right tail - 10% left tail - 10% Black-Scholes
chance that the Dec’09 WTI contract will expire below Source: DB Global Markets Research
USD61/bbl or above USD149/bbl, against the futures
price of USD92/bbl.
While we believe upside price risk remains in the crude Amanda Lee, (852) 2203 8376
oil market on geopolitics, weather, USD overshooting, amanda-ps.lee@db.com
escalating cost and tight market fundamentals, USD149
oil seems far too high in our opinion. We do not believe
triple digit oil is sustainable and longer term we are
expecting the crude oil price heading back to USD80 in
2008-09.
• For gold to surpass its all time high in real 1.20 1.20
1.55
Bear 26-Feb-85 8-May-95 10.2 -43.2% 60%
1.35
50%
Bull 9-May-95 27-Feb-02 6.8 -40.1% 40% 1.60
1.30
30%
Average* 7.1 40.2% 1.25
20%
These probabilities would assume market players (ii) Bull cycles have typically been preceded by a
anticipate an extended period of US dollar weakness significant narrowing in the US trade deficit.
similar to the early 1990s when the US dollar was Although the US current account deficit has
trading around 20% undervalued against the synthetic fallen from 6.2% in 2006 to an estimated 5.1%
euro for a number of years. We find that current levels of GDP in 2008, the deficit still remains large.
of implied EURUSD volatility suggest a range of 15%, We believe this will constrain a turnaround in
or EURUSD fluctuating between 1.38 and 1.58. the US dollar’s fortunes for the time being.
Since the current US dollar cycle is becoming (iii) The start of a new uptrend in the US dollar has
increasingly long in the tooth, investors need to tended to coincide with a turn in interest rate
consider at what point the US dollar will embark on a differentials in favour of the US dollar.
new long-term uptrend. To assess the likely timing of However, we expect rate differentials between
such an event we examined past turning points in the the US and Euroland will continue to shift
US dollar and find six valuable lessons, all of which against the US dollar during 2008.
suggest an imminent turn in the US dollar is unlikely:
(iv) A trend reversal in the US dollar has historically
(i) Turning points in the US dollar have been been associated with longer-term turns in
asymmetric such that downturns from up- capital flows. However, US credit markets
cycles have been inverted (V-shaped) while have been the primary channel of capital
upturns from down cycles have tended to be inflows into the US in recent years.
preceded by an extended bottoming-out Consequently ongoing stress in the US credit
period. Put another way, US dollar bear cycles and housing sectors are expected to hinder a
tend to be more durable than bull cycles. This turnaround in US capital flows in the near term.
would imply that a new long-term uptrend in
(v) The pressure for adjustment from valuation
the US dollar may be several years away.
extremes is greater when the US dollar is
Assuming this dollar bear cycle conforms to uniformly cheap rather than unevenly so. At
historical averages then it would imply the US the moment, while the dollar is cheap against
dollar will not embark on a new long term the euro, on a trade-weighted basis the US
uptrend until August 2010, or 8.5 years. dollar has not yet overshot, which reflects the
Alternatively, if one assumes the current US fact that the US dollar is still expensive against
dollar cycle will continue to track the 1985- the Japanese yen and most Asian emerging
1995 US dollar cycle, then it implies the US market currencies. This is therefore lowering
dollar only hitting rock bottom in September the pressures for a reversal in the US dollar
2011, Figure 4. currently.
(vi) Every turn in the US dollar since 1978 has
Figure 4: The 1985 and 2000 US dollar bubbles coincided with aggressive rounds of G3 foreign
compared exchange intervention, Figure 5. For the time
being dollar weakness is not yet a policy
200 USDDEM: October 1978
1985 & 2000 US
& June 1995 rebased to 100 headache for public sector authorities. IT
dollar bubbles burst
180 assists in dampening inflationary pressure s in
Europe, in a rising commodity price
160
environment, while it helps cushion the
140 USD hits rock slowdown in the US economy. As a result, we
bottom in
September 2011
believe investors should only position for dollar
120
strength or at the very least stability in the US
100 dollar exchange rate when central banks start
80 Oct 1978-Dec 1987 intervening and buying the US dollar.
Jun 1995-Current
60
0 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192 216
Months after trough
Source: DB Global Markets Research
Figure 5: EURUSD central bank intervention The assess the extent to which the precious metal
since 1980 prices could overshoot we examine prices in real terms,
Figure 7. We find that despite the rapid real price
1.70 EUR selling 1.70
G3 action to stop
appreciation that has already occurred in this cycle, gold
the dollar falling EURUSD price would need to rise an additional 40% from current
1.50 1.50
EUR buying levels to surpass the all time high in real terms hit at the
Louvre Accord (1987)
1.30 to stabilise the dollar 1.30 beginning of the 1990s while silver prices would have
to rise an additional 350%. This would be equivalent to
1.10 1.10 gold hitting USD1,250/oz.
0.90 0.90
Figure 7: Gold & silver prices in real terms
0.70 Plaza Accord (1985) G3 action to stop 0.70
1400 Deflated by US PPI 80
to push the dollar lower the euro falling Real gold price (2005
US dollars, lhs)
0.50 0.50 1200 70
81 84 87 90 93 96 99 02 05 08 Real silver price (2005
US dollars, rhs) 60
1000
Before 1999, FX invention rounds are conducted in USDDEM
Source: DB Global Markets Research 50
800
40
the US dollar. We believe overshooting risks are most 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
acute in the precious metals markets and in particular Source: DB Global Markets Research
gold. This reflects the historically non-linear relationship
between the US dollar and the gold price such that
since 1980 the gold price has tended to react more to In terms of duration, the current gold price rally has
incremental changes in the US dollar when the US been the longest since the gold price became freely
dollar is trading at depressed levels, Figure 6. floating in August 1971. However, in terms of
magnitude, the gold price would need to surpass
Figure 6: The non-linear relationship between USD1,320/oz to be comparable to the rally in gold prices
the gold price & the DXY dollar index that occurred in the first half of the 1970s.
DXY
DXY vs gold price, 1980-2007
170
Figure 8: Gold rallies in comparison
150
Low High Magnitude Duration
130 USD/oz USD/oz (% change) (months)
To assess the options market probabilities to the gold Figure 10: Producer de-hedging is expected to
price outlook, we examine cumulative Black-Scholes slow
knockout probabilities. We find that the market is
600
attaching a 48% and 63% probability of the gold price
hitting USD1,050/oz in one and two years’ time 400
respectively.
200
Tonnes
0
Figure 9: Cumulative Black-Scholes gold
knockout probabilities -200
%
100 -400
900
90 850
950 -600
80
800 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E
1000
70
1050
60 750 Source: DB Global Markets Research estimates
50
40
Investment demand remains strong
30
Investment demand remains one of the important
20
sources of physical gold demand and a key price driver.
10
The popularity of gold ETFS has increased dramatically
0
3M 6M 12M 24M
since their launch in March 2003. In 2007, the total
amount of physical gold held by the eight ETFs we track
Source: DB Global Markets Research; Spot reference USD888/oz
rose an additional 40%, Figure 12. The launch of a new
gold futures contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange
this month may also attract a new layer of investment
Demand-supply fundamentals demand into the market.
While we expect production levels to recover further
this year, we expect producer dehedging and
Figure 11: ETF physical gold holdings since 2003
investment demand will support the gold price. During
2007 and despite a number of new mines coming 1000
online and record high gold price global mine production ETF securities
ZKB (Zurich)
rose slightly in 2007 to 2,522 tonnes. Rising production 800 IAU (AMEX)
in Russia, China and Australia was offset to some GLD (JSE)
GLD NYSE)
degree by falling production in South Africa and North 600 GBS (LSE)
America. We expect global gold mine production will
Tonnes
GOLD (ASX)
CEF (TSX)
recover further in 2008 helped by increasing production
400
from Australia and China.
200
Producer de-hedging has continued in 2007, reducing
the global hedge book to 995 tonnes from 1,368 tonnes
0
in 2006. We believe producer de-hedging will remain a 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
main theme in the gold market, at least over the next
Source: CPM, DB Global Markets Research estimates
two years, reflecting the strong gold price outlook and
strong shareholder opposition towards hedging.
Figure 12: Gold supply-demand balance Figure 14: Silver supply-demand balance
T o nn e s 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E M illio n T ro y O unc e s 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E
Our final concern is that the private and public sector in Conclusion
Russia may attempt to “manage the palladium market” In our view, the case for PGMs is easily explained. The
if prices move much higher than spot to provide peace metals have highly unique and desirable physical
of mind to vehicle manufacturers in an attempt to characteristics, making them useable in a number of
ensure that the price spikes at the beginning of the industrial applications. PGMs have the unique ability to
decade that resulted in massive write-downs of stock catalyse reactions, many of which have desirable
will not be repeated. environmental consequences. Many of these
applications happen to be in areas that face increasingly
Rhodium
strenuous environmental legislation, requiring the use
We expect the rhodium market will remain extremely
of more catalytic material.
volatile given the relative illiquidity of the market.
Rhodium is heavily exposed to autocats (85% of
demand) and we expect demand from this sector to
Also, in the case of autocats, which account for more
remain strong given tightening regulatory environment
than 50% of the consumption of all PGMs, legislation
for the various forms of nitrous oxides (NOxs). Rhodium
has tightened to such an extent that it has become a
is particularly important in reducing NOx emissions that
strategic and “critical path” item for automotive
occur predominantly in diesel vehicles and in a “lean-
manufacturers. On the supply-side, reserves are highly
burn” environment. As manufacturers continue to
concentrated and barriers to entry very high. This
strive for efficiency in gasoline engines, we would
enables producers to essentially design their own
expect an increase in the population of “lean-burn”
returns by controlling the rate of new supply.
engines.
6000
200 Rhodium price (USD/oz, rhs)
5000
100
4000
3000
0
2000
-100
1000
Forecast
-200 0
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008e
Figure 2: Metallgesellschaft Metals Index vs Dow exports. We agree – recent research found that a 1%
Jones Industrial avg decline in US GDP translates into a 0.2% decline in
emerging markets exports. In terms of the magnitude
14,200 460
of the impact of a US slowdown on China, we find that
13,900
440 a 1ppt deceleration in the US will likely result in a
420
reduction less than 1ppt (on average at only 0.5ppt) in
13,600
China’s GDP growth. This implies that even if the US
400
13,300
GDP growth falls from 2.2% in 2007 to 1.2% in 2008,
380 the Chinese economy should continue to grow at
13,000 around 10.4%.
360
5.0
40%
At the same time, the outlook for most developing
economies is less dire. For example, the World Bank 20%
nc
r
ad
l
m
ee
ke
pe
iu
Le
Zi
ic
St
p
in
n
Co
de
Ir o
m
lu
Figure 7: Brook Hunt copper market balance Figure 9: Copper refined capacity by region
forecast vs outcome Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
600
China 2921 3406 4124 4712 5264 5519
Capacity growth 16.3% 16.6% 21.1% 14.3% 11.7% 4.8%
400
-81% % of global supply 14.7% 16.5% 18.6% 20.3% 21.6% 21.9%
W Europe 2081 2093 2124 2180 2242 2267
200 Capacity growth -0.7% 0.6% 1.5% 2.6% 2.8% 1.1%
107% % of global supply 10.4% 10.1% 9.6% 9.4% 9.2% 9.0%
0 Chile 2979 3075 3418 3568 3620 3615
Capacity growth -1.2% 3.2% 11.2% 4.4% 1.5% -0.2%
-200
-2% % of global supply 14.9% 14.9% 15.4% 15.4% 14.8% 14.3%
-138% Forecast USA 1927 1900 1926 2004 2069 2061
-400 125.18% Actual Capacity growth -1.3% -1.4% 1.4% 4.0% 3.3% -0.4%
-600
% of global supply 9.7% 9.2% 8.7% 8.6% 8.5% 8.2%
Japan 1605 1630 1750 1728 1728 1728
-800 Capacity growth 3.7% 1.6% 7.4% -1.3% 0.0% 0.0%
% of global supply 8.1% 7.9% 7.9% 7.4% 7.1% 6.9%
-1000 Total World Smelting
19,929 20,684 22,209 23,219 24,403 25,226
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008E Production
Capacity growth 5.2% 3.8% 7.4% 4.5% 5.1% 3.4%
Source: Brook Hunt, DB Global Markets Research
Source: Brook Hunt, ICSG, DB Global Markets Research
Figure 11: DB Copper Supply/Demand Model smelting capacity in North America and Europe, much
Mt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
of it is proving to be uneconomical because of energy
World refined production
costs. Furthermore, the imminent greenhouse gas
16.54 17.32 18.13 19.10 20.22 21.11
emissions legislation has serious implications on
smelting. According to a recent study by industry
World refined consumption 16.98 17.53 18.13 18.94 19.90 20.66
consultant CRU, at 35/t CO2, a smelter using 100%
Market balance -0.45 -0.21 0.01 0.16 0.32 0.46
coal fired electricity would need to add USD500/t
(aluminium equivalent) to its costs.
Stk-to-Consptn ratio (wks) 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.1 3.8 4.8
Production growth is also at risk as a result of China’s
Average cash price (USc/lb) 167.0 305.1 321.6 325.0 310.0 250.0 attempt to curb production in energy intensive
Average cash price (USD/t) industries. The country’s trade governing body has
3,682 6,725 7,090 7,165 6,834 5,512
instituted a series of policies aimed at reducing exports
Source: Brook Hunt, ICSG, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
and encouraging imports of primary aluminium.
Consequently, we expect China will become a net
importer of aluminium this year
Aluminium
While aluminium maintained its status as the laggard of Figure 13: Changes to the Chinese aluminium
the industrials metals complex in 2007, we find several tariff regime
market fundamentals suggesting 2008 may prove to be Nov-06 Raised tax on exports of primary aluminium to from 5% to 15%
different. This conclusion comes from two factors: Nov-06 Removal of tax exemption for tolling of primary aluminium
Chinese efforts to curb production and higher energy (importing alumina duty free) and exporting with a rebate
Jul-07 Cancelled 8-11% tax rebates on exports of rod, bar, extrusion,
costs. profile and wire made of primary aluminium
Aug-07 Imposed a 15% tax on exports of rod and bar made of primary
aluminium
Supply Aug-07 Cancelled a 5% tariff on imports of primary aluminium
Although global exchange stocks of primary aluminium Source: Bloomberg, DB Global Markets Research
are at a relatively high level by historical standards, the
stock-to-consumption ratio is at all-time lows, indicating Figure 14: China’s net primary aluminium trade
that despite strong production growth, consumption 160
Net visible trade balance, Kt (+/- export/import)
growth is outpacing supply.
130
12-month moving average
100
Figure 12: Aluminium stock-to-consumption
70
ratio
40
6,000 Kt Total com m ercial stocks (LHS)Weeks 16
10
Long-term equillibrium ratio 14
5,000
Stock to consum ption ratio (RHS) -20
12
4,000 -50
10
3,000 8 -80
Nov-97 Nov-99 Nov-01 Nov-03 Nov-05 Nov-07
6
2,000 Source: Reuters, DB Global Markets Research
4
1,000
2
Other factors have also conspired to pressure Chinese
- 0 aluminium output. After surging by 34% in 2007,
3Q87 3Q89 3Q91 3Q93 3Q95 3Q97 3Q99 3Q01 3Q03 3Q05 3Q07
production growth is expected to come in at only 18%
Source: Brook Hunt, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research in 2008 and just 11% in 2009. The primary reason for
the sharp production growth in 2007 was better
Meanwhile, input costs for primary aluminium are set to availability of domestic alumina at lower prices which
climb dramatically as a consequence of the steep rise in encouraged idled capacity to be reactivated. However, it
energy costs. As energy costs make up around a third is expected those smelters that were likely to restart in
of total smelting costs, aluminium is extraordinarily a more economically favourable environment will have
sensitive to energy price shocks. It takes around 15,000 already done so. A decline in Chinese domestic
kilowatts per hour to produce one tonne of the metal. aluminium production would drive up domestic prices,
making exports unattractive.
For example, Chalco recently announced it has shut
160Kt of capacity at a plant in southern China due to
power shortages because of lower production of
hydropower, which also threatened aluminium
production in Sichuan province where producers are
also making output cuts. While there is some spare
Figure 15: Primary aluminium production by region Figure 17: DB Aluminium Supply/Demand Model
Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Mt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
China 7806 9375 12600 14868 16503 17741 World refined production
Production growth 16.7% 20.1% 34.4% 18.0% 11.0% 7.5% 31.97 33.98 38.17 42.04 44.61 47.86
% of global production 24.4% 27.6% 33.0% 35.4% 37.0% 37.1%
North America 5382 5334 5622 5790 5802 5802 World refined consumption 31.91 34.38 38.06 41.98 44.84 47.75
Production growth 5.3% -0.9% 5.4% 3.0% 0.2% 0.0%
% of global production 16.8% 15.7% 14.7% 13.8% 13.0% 12.1%
Market balance 0.05 -0.41 0.11 0.06 -0.23 0.11
W Europe 4345 4174 4334 4763 4749 4663
Production growth 1.2% -3.9% 3.8% 9.9% -0.3% -1.8%
% of global production 13.6% 12.3% 11.4% 11.3% 10.6% 9.7% Stk-to-Consptn ratio (wks) 4.91 3.94 3.71 3.44 2.95 2.89
Russia 3662 3729 3945 4245 4338 4473
Production growth 1.5% 1.9% 5.8% 7.6% 2.2% 3.1% Average cash price (USc/lb) 86.1 116.6 119.8 121.5 121.8 110.0
% of global production 11.5% 11.0% 10.3% 10.1% 9.7% 9.3%
Rest of World 10771 11364 11666 12378 13215 15182 Average cash price (USD/t)
Production growth 6.8% 6.3% 12.3% 10.2% 6.1% 7.3% 1,899 2,570 2,641 2,679 2,684 2,425
% of global production 33.7% 33.4% 30.6% 29.4% 29.6% 31.7% Source: Brook Hunt, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
Total 31,967 33,976 38,167 42,045 44,607 47,861
Production growth 6.8% 6.3% 12.3% 10.2% 6.1% 7.3%
Source: Brook Hunt, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
Nickel
Demand We expect nickel prices to remain stable in 2008 as
Despite concerns over the US economy toward the end supply remains ample against a healthy increase in
of 2007, primary aluminium consumption growth demand. Stainless steel producers in the US and
recorded a robust 10.7 over 2006. The primary risk for Europe will ramp up production in the beginning of the
the metal this year is that it is more exposed to US year and we expect upward demand pressure once
weakness as its more of a developed world metal Asian producers re-enter the market after the Chinese
because of its use in packaging, high-end car New Year holiday.
manufacturing and aerospace. Nevertheless, emerging
market consumption trends – led of course by China - Supply
are set to continue at a robust pace with automobile Following a sizeable market deficit in 2006, the primary
ownership growing at vast rates and high urban nickel balance shifted to surplus in 2007 after demand
investment levels supporting aluminium intensive dried up on the back of the steep H1 price appreciation
construction and consumer goods products. and subsequent stainless steel production cutbacks. In
2009 we are forecasting a return to deficit conditions as
Figure 16: Primary aluminium demand by region global mine production growth with struggle to meet
Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 the sharp demand profile.
China 7083 8790 12200 15372 17832 20328
Demand growth 20.3% 24.1% 38.8% 26.0% 16.0% 14.0%
% of global demand 22.2% 25.6% 32.1% 36.6% 39.8% 42.6% Figure 18: Major new nickel production
USA 6375 6347 5900 5976 5815 5795 Kt nickel contained in
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Demand growth 2.0% -0.4% -7.0% 1.3% -2.7% -0.3% ores & concentrates
% of global demand 20.0% 18.5% 15.5% 14.2% 13.0% 12.1% Talvivaara (Finland) 14.0 33.6 37.8 40.5 42.0 42.0
W Europe 6512 6801 7003 7087 7165 7222 RTuba/Tag'ito/Hina.etc
95.0 144.0 154.0 122.0 114.0 112.0
Demand growth -1.5% 4.4% 3.0% 1.2% 1.1% 0.8% (Philippines)
% of global demand 20.4% 19.8% 18.4% 16.9% 16.0% 15.1% Onca Puma (Brazil) 14.5 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.0 58.0
Rest of World 11942 12445 12957 13546 14025 14407 Ravensthorpe (Australia) 31.0 43.6 46.9 49.9 49.9 49.9
Demand growth 6.5% 4.2% 4.1% 4.5% 3.5% 2.7% Goro (New Caledonia) 0.0 60.0 60.0 60.0 60.0 60.0
% of global demand 37.4% 36.2% 34.0% 32.3% 31.3% 30.2% Koniambo (New Caledonia) 35.0 60.0 60.0 60.0
Total 31,912 34,382 38,060 41,982 44,837 47,752 Jinchuan (China) 73.8 80.3 103.8 109.8 109.8 109.8
Demand growth 6.5% 7.7% 10.7% 10.3% 6.8% 6.5% Total global mine
1,792 1,948 2,029 2,056 2,073 2,054
Source: Brook Hunt, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research production
Production growth 7.5% 8.7% 2.4% 0.1% 0.9% -1.0%
Source: Brook Hunt, INSG, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
Outlook
Given that aluminium has been trading near the cost of Nickel pig iron update
production, any increase in input costs will certainly China began importing laterite ores in 2005 in order to
exert upward pressure on prices. The major risk in this produce a low nickel bearing product called pig iron, a
scenario is that the longer forward prices remain at substitute for primary nickel. Although cheaper to
elevated levels, the more announcements we’ll see of produce than purchasing primary nickel at LME prices,
new smelter projects, particularly in regions with access pig iron is also characterised as labour intensive, energy
to lower energy costs such as in Africa, Russia and the inefficient and pollutive process However, significant
Middle East. At the same time, these new plants would levels of imports did not commence until March 2006,
certainly have comparative cost advantage and would precisely when the LME nickel price began an
force the small smelters in North America and Western unprecedented rise to an all time high fourteen months
Europe to shut down as they creep up the cost curve. later. Given the rapid reduction of lateritic imports
against the sharp correction of the nickel price in June
2007, the production of pig iron is clearly sensitive to
contracts.
10 Molybdenum price
After a remarkable run in which molybdenum prices (USD/lb)
saw an over-80% increase from the end of 2003 until
0
June 2005, prices fell off their highs. However, prices
Jan-03 Jan-04 Jan-05 Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08
found new strength in the first quarter of 2007 and
remained at their highs for the remainer of the year. Source: Reuters
Supply Zinc
While primary supply remained tight at the end of 2007, The decline in the zinc price that started at the end of
increased year-end stock sales lifted upward pressure 2006 on fund-based technical selling and as the market
on prices. Western mine output remained flat in 2007. anticipated a move to a market surplus continued in
Not long after large-scale producer Thomas Creek 2007. Despite the sharp fall, global exchange
Metals cut its 2008 production forecast, a landslide at inventories remained at very low levels as the expected
one of its key assets will likely bring the year’s total surplus has yet to materialise and we estimate the
down further. global zinc market was 260Kt in deficit in 2007.
CRU. 400
80.0
Supply world was unable to fill the zinc market supply gap
In 2008, we are expecting the global zinc market to evident from 2003, China brought more metal to the
record its first market surplus since 2003, largely as a party. The country recorded a small net export balance
result of a surge in Chinese smelting capacity in the in 2006 and according to our estimates, China will
second half of the year. Evidence of this is starting to remain a net exporter for the foreseeable future.
manifest as exchange stocks in China are rising and are
currently at an all-time high of 55.5Kt. There is one important caveat to this scenario which
has only recently developed. As detailed above, the
This trend has also been reflected in recent annual zinc Chinese government is stepping up its efforts on
treatment charge (TC) negotiations which are expected restricting the export of high energy consumption and
to swing in favour of smelters as a consequence of an polluting industries. We expect authorities will
anticipated concentrate surplus and lower zinc prices. In eventually scrap the 5% export rebate on Special High
2007 the treatment charge benchmark was USD300/t. Grade (SHG) zinc with 99.995% purity (the grade of
As a result of this year’s weakness, we expect terms to metal traded on the international market), as soon as
be settled around the USD340/t level. mid-2008 as well as imposing an export duty later in the
year. There are two important implications to the tariff
Figure 26: Refined zinc production by region changes. First, in the shorter-term, exporters will likely
Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
rush to get as much material out on the market before
China 2761 3163 3726 4448 5068 5278 the changes are made which will affect their bottom
Production growth 9.5% 14.6% 17.8% 19.4% 13.9% 4.1% line. A flood of metal will tip the global market balance
North America 1056 1079 1072 1120 1195 1195
Production growth -7.4% 2.2% -0.7% 4.5% 6.7% 0.0%
deeper into surplus territory than we are currently
Western Europe 2072 1971 2023 2106 2091 2063 forecasting. The second implication is less bearish – in
Production growth -5.8% -4.9% 2.6% 4.1% -0.7% -1.3% the longer term, the export duties could prompt a
Australia and Asia 2243 2355 2405 2699 2766 2861
Production growth -0.2% 5.0% 2.1% 12.2% 2.5% 3.4%
slowdown in Chinese refined production growth and
Total 10,128 10,555 11,335 12,418 13,258 13,625 begin to tip the global market balance in the other
Production growth -0.1% 4.2% 7.4% 9.6% 6.8% 2.8% direction. It would require a substantial rise in zinc
Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
prices before exports would again become attractive.
well into net import territory in 2004 and especially Jan-07 Imposed a 5% tax on exports of HG zinc
2005. Not incidentally, this was also the period in which
Jun-07 Increase tax on exports of HG zinc to 10%
the zinc price soared to all-time nominal price highs.
mid-08 Considering imposing a 5 or 10% tax on SHG (high quality) zinc exports
Figure 27: China’s net refined zinc trade balance
mid-08 Considering removing a 5% tax rebate on exports of SHG zinc
vs price
Source: Bloomberg
Annual net visiible trade balance
600 Kt 3500
USD/t, (rhs)
Figure 29: Refined zinc consumption by region Figure 32: DB Zinc Supply/Demand Model
Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Mt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
China 2853 3166 3531 3919 4370 4872 World refined production
Demand growth 18.0% 11.0% 11.5% 11.0% 11.5% 11.5% 10.10 10.53 11.31 12.48 13.36 13.60
% of global demand 26.9% 28.4% 30.5% 32.2% 34.0% 36.3%
USA 1182 1224 1163 1151 1181 1187 World refined consumption 10.61 11.15 11.59 12.18 12.87 13.41
Demand growth -5.1% 3.5% -5.0% -1.0% 2.6% 0.5%
% of global demand 11.1% 11.0% 10.0% 9.5% 9.2% 8.9%
Market balance -0.51 -0.59 -0.26 0.33 0.53 0.22
Western Europe 2233 2323 2346 2382 2441 2442
Demand growth -4.7% 4.1% 1.0% 1.5% 2.5% 0.0%
% of global demand 21.0% 20.8% 20.2% 19.6% 19.0% 18.2% Stk-to-Consptn ratio (wks) 4.0 2.0 0.8 2.1 4.2 4.8
Asia (excl Japan & China) 1980 1991 2025 2103 2180 2211
Demand growth 4.1% 0.5% 1.7% 3.9% 3.7% 1.4% Average cash price (USc/lb) 62.7 148.6 154.5 105.0 95.0 105.0
% of global demand 18.7% 17.8% 17.1% 16.3% 15.4% 14.8%
Total 10,610 11,150 11,592 12,181 12,866 13,409 Average cash price (USD/t)
Demand growth 3.0% 5.1% 4.0% 5.1% 5.6% 4.2% 1,383 3,277 3,407 2,315 2,094 2,315
Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research
6000
Supply
4000 One major factor affecting the lead market in 2007 was
2000 changes in the Chinese tariff regime. The first change
0 came in December 2006 after the Ministry of Finance
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 removed the 13% export rebate on refined lead exports
Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research as well as scrapping the 13% lead-acid battery rebate
and reducing the rebate on some lead alloy products to
5%. Chinese lead exports fell over 80% mom in
January 2007. Next, an export tax of 10% was imposed
on refined lead which took effect from June 1.
Furthermore, it is expected that export duty could be
increased to 15% in mid-2008. Between January and
November 2007, Chinese refined lead exports were
down 54% yoy as producers obviously favour higher
domestic lead prices as opposed to increased exporting
costs. Given that China accounts for roughly 30% of Figure 35: Primary lead demand by region
global lead exports, the physical manifestation of this Kt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
development is a tightening of refined metal supply in China 1850 2169 2516 2893 3183 3437
industrialized countries. Demand growth 32.0% 17.2% 16.0% 15.0% 10.0% 8.0%
% of global demand 24.2% 27.3% 30.4% 33.2% 34.9% 36.3%
USA 1598 1605 1613 1621 1635 1646
Figure 34: China’s net refined lead trade Demand growth 6.3% 0.4% 0.5% 0.5% 0.9% 0.6%
% of global demand 20.9% 20.2% 19.5% 18.6% 17.9% 17.4%
70 Net visible trade balance, Kt (+/- export/import)
Removal of export rebate W Europe 1662 1639 1639 1613 1610 1620
60
12 month moving average Demand growth -0.7% -1.4% 0.0% -1.6% -0.2% 0.7%
% of global demand 21.7% 20.6% 19.8% 18.5% 17.7% 17.1%
50 Rest of World 2547 2545 2507 2586 2688 2774
Demand growth -0.6% -0.1% -1.5% 3.2% 3.9% 3.2%
40 % of global demand 33.3% 32.0% 30.3% 29.7% 29.5% 29.3%
Total 7,657 7,958 8,275 8,713 9,115 9,477
30
Demand growth 7.2% 3.9% 4.0% 5.3% 4.6% 4.0%
Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research
20
10
Outlook
0 We expect lead prices to ease to a more sustainable
Nov-97 Nov-99 Nov-01 Nov-03 Nov-05 Nov-07
level in 2008 as Ivernia restarts concentrate shipments.
Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research Prices have staged a modest rebound since mid-
December after news of the temporary closure of
The other major factor affecting supply-side dynamics refined capacity in Yunnan province in China that
occurred in March when the Australian Department of producers blamed on high production costs as the
Environment and Conservation suspended the lead result of the removal of a local tax break and the sharp
export license from the Western Australian port of decline in international and domestic prices. The plants
Esperance in March 2007 after thousands of birds died are not expected to resume operations before late
due to lead dust poisoning at and around the port. It February. These two supply constraints highlight the
also investigated excessive levels of nickel dust during biggest risk lead prices face in 2008 against a tight
loading. Ivernia’s Magellan mine, which is responsible market balance. We moderately increased our 2008
for around 3% of global concentrate supply has been forecast to USD2326/t (105.5USc/lb) and left our 2009
unable to make shipments to its customers since then. estimation unchanged at USD1692/t (76.8USc/lb).
However, in early December, Ivernia announced it
expects to get permission to ship lead in concentrate Figure 36: DB Lead Supply/Demand Model
via Fremantle port in March-April 2008. This news had
Mt 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
an immediate effect on lead prices and we expect there
World refined production 7.56 7.89 8.04 8.72 9.21 9.69
will be a further correction once those exports resume.
World refined consumption 7.66 7.96 8.27 8.71 9.12 9.48
Demand
On the demand side, consumption levels remain robust, Market balance -0.09 -0.07 -0.23 0.01 0.10 0.21
largely on the back of battery demand in China. Growing
demand for cars, light vehicles and electric bicycles Stk-to-Consptn ratio (wks) 2.1 1.5 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.7
reflect the continuing social and economic
Average cash price (USc/lb) 44.3 58.4 117.2 105.5 76.8 65.0
transformation occurring in china (as well other
emerging market economies). The level of Chinese Average cash price (USD/t) 977 1287 2584 2326 1692 1433
demand growth in 2007 was slightly lower than in 2006
as a result of the spike in price and the removal of the Source: Brook Hunt, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research
Supply Kt
6.0
According to CRU estimates, world refined tin
production fell 2% in 2007. Indonesian supply issues 4.0
Figure 37: Global tin exchange stocks vs price However, the most likely scenario is that worldwide
40 Global Exchange Stocks, Kt (lhs) 800.0 supply will likely remain depressed in 2008 with
LM E Cash Price, USc/lb (rhs) continued Indonesian regulatory uncertainty and the
700.0
newly introduced Chinese tin export tax. This weak
30
600.0
supply outlook, coupled with strong 1H07 consumption
500.0 expectations and an already tight supply and demand
20 balance all point to continued gains for tin prices in
400.0
2008. We have increased our forecast in 2008 by 21%
10
300.0 to USD14,716/t (667.5USc/lb) and by 7% in 2009 to
200.0 USD9,976/t (452.5USc/lb).
0 100.0
Dec-97 Dec-99 Dec-01 Dec-03 Dec-05 Dec-07
Source: Reuters, DB Global Markets Research Joel Crane, (1) 212 250 5253
joel.crane@db.com
Demand
According to CRU estimates, consumption was flat in
2007. Coupled with falling supply, this led to an annual
supply deficit of approximately 8,000t. While
consumption stagnated throughout the first three
quarters of 2007, Q4 consumption picked up in every
major market, which caused the supply and demand
balance to tighten at the end of the year. The electronic
solder business, the primary source of demand,
continues to increase demand for tin as the growing
trend for lead-free solder persists. Consumption is
expected to continue to be strong in the first half of
2008, causing further balance pressure.
The Global Fight For Food 500 Agricultural output in 2007-08 (million tonnes) Sugar
Soybean
450
Rice
• The United States and China dominate in 400 Wheat
350 Corn
terms of global agricultural production.
300
However, what distinguishes the two 250
counties apart is their role on global export 200
markets. While the US is consistently among 150
the top two exporters of many agricultural 100
o
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ex
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position reflects improving living standards
and hence a shift to more high protein diets. * We rank countries according to the combined output of corn, wheat,
rice, soybeans and sugar (cane & beet) production
This process is still in its infancy since China Source: USDA
currently consumes just 60kg of meat per
annum or 60% of the world average and 20%
of per capita meat consumption in North What distinguishes the US and China apart is that the
America. US is not only among the top two producers of many
agricultural commodities (with the exception of rice),
• Moreover agricultural land per head of
but, it also holds a similarly dominant position in terms
population has been falling for the past 30
of world exports. For example, in 2006-07 the US
years in China.
accounted for 60%, 43% and 22% of world exports for
• The most significant deterioration in China’s corn, soybeans and wheat respectively.
agricultural trade position has been in
soybeans while the country is now in danger
of becoming a net importer of corn for the Figure 2: US & world exports of a selection of
first time since the mid-1990s. agricultural commodities
• We expect the expansion in world ethanol 120 Rest of world exports (million tonnes)
and biodiesel production will sustain strong US exports (million tonnes)
demand for corn and soybeans as well as 100
Figure 3: China’s arable land per head of Figure 5: China is moving to become a net
population is on the decline importer of corn and sustaining its high trade
Hectares of arable land per capita (lhs) deficit in cotton
0.16 160
Total area under cultivation (million China's net trade balance in:
20000
0.15 hectares, rhs)
155 15000 Sugar Corn
0.14
10000 Wheat Cotton
5000
0.13 150
0
0.12
-5000
145
0.11 -10000
-15000
0.1 140
-20000
1978 1985 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 Tonnes (000s)
-25000
Source: China Statistical Bureau 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Source: USDA
15
0 5
-5000
-10000
0
-15000 China's net trade balance in:
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Figure 7: Contribution to the increase in global Figure 9: Global inventory to use ratios for corn,
corn consumption (%) wheat and soybeans
Corn stock-to-use ratio Total available stocks
8 US ethanol production 180 divided by daily consumption
Wheat stock-to-use ratio
China 160 Soybean stock-to-use ratio
Rest of the world
6 140
120
Days of use
4 100
80
2 60
40
0
20
0
-2 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Source: USDA
Source: USDA, IMF
Despite the significant tightening in fundamentals
across the agricultural sectors as well as recent price
Similarly the use of soybeans as a feedstock in the US appreciation we believe prices have significant upside
and European biodiesel sector has been responsible for potential. Indeed price rallies appear to be still in their
just over 50% of global soybean consumption growth infancy in both magnitude and duration terms.
between 2005 and 2007, Figure 8. Indeed price appreciation for many agricultural
commodities so far in this cycle is still close to historical
Figure 8: Contribution to the increase in global averages. Figure 10 compares rallies across a variety of
agricultural commodities and examines the average
soybean consumption
duration and magnitude of each rally since 1970. We
10 U.S. and EU biofuels
compare what has happened today not only versus
China
Rest of the world historical averages, but, also with the most powerful
8
rally that has taken place over the past 40 years.
6
S o on
ad
ru r
ns
r
oa
er
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at
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Al
250
200
150
100
50 30 December 2005=100
0
Jan-06 May-06 Sep-06 Jan-07 May-07 Sep-07
Trade recommendations:
Theme 1: Farmland
• Long corn, cotton, soybeans &wheat
• Long corn farms, farmland REITS, grain
elevators
Theme 2: Farming services
• Long faming machinery, fertilizers,
water resources, GM crop tech
Theme 3: Farming economies
• Long the agricultural exports such as
Brazil and Argentina
Theme 4: Margins squeezed
• Short the grain users: bakert, soft drinks
companies, beer and food industry,
distilleries, ethanol producers
Theme 5: Cattle time spread
• Short the nearby and long the far
forward of the cattle future on any
drought
These 6: RV curve play
• Long May’08 vs. short Jul’08 corn time
spread to position for the curve to flip
into backwardation
Banking on Higher Prices: We See The EU is now committed to achieving a reduction in its
GHG emissions of 20% relative to 1990 levels (Figure 1).
EUAs at EUR35/tonne over 2008-20 Although this is not a commitment to an absolute cut –
• The EU has a very ambitious energy-policy the target allows for the continuing use of credits from
package out to 2020 which we think points to CDM/JI projects as offsets against excess emissions –
significantly higher carbon prices over 2008-20. it is nonetheless an extremely ambitious target, and this
The package comprises three main pillars: is for three main reasons.
• First, achieving a 20% reduction in the EU’s First, taking 2010 as the mid-point of the Kyoto
greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions against 1990 compliance period and hence the baseline for
levels by 2020; calculating the “effort required” to the new target of
20% below 1990 levels, then on current projections the
• Second achieving a 20% improvement in the
EU will have to achieve a reduction in emissions over
EU’s energy efficiency by 2020, thereby reducing
primary-energy consumption by 20% against 2010-20 of almost the same absolute magnitude as that
business-as-usual (BAU) assumptions; expected over 1990-2010.
• Third, consuming 20% of all primary energy by Figure 1: EU GHG emissions targets 1990-2020
2020 from renewable sources, and building 12 (Mt)
large-scale carbon-capture and storage (CCS)
7,000
plants in the EU by 2015.
6,000 5,810
• These policy targets imply a very tough ETS cap 5,196
for Phase-3 of the scheme, and we estimate a cut 5,000 Expected 4,648
reduction Reduction
of 17% -- or 366Mt per year – to the EU-wide cap 4,000 achieved required
4,279
from 2013. -614
4,157
-548
3,000 3,423
Figure 2: Projected EU emissions to 2010 and Figure 4: EU projected “effort required” by 2020
2020 (Mt) after efficiency savings (Mt)
6,000 5,810
5,552
5,500 800
5,196
5,000 Expected Expected 700
4,500 reduction BAU increase -197
achieved +356 600
4,000
4,279 -614
3,500 500 Assumed average
4,460
3,000 4,157
400 reduction from
2,500 746
Efficiency Target by 2020
2,000 300 549
1,500 200
1,000
1,531 100
500 1,039 1,092
0 0
EU 27 Kyoto Baseline 2010E 2020E BAU Assumed BAU Assumed "Effort
eastern Europe EU 15 Emissions by 2020E Required"
Source: European Environment Agency, DB Global Markets Research Source: DB Global Markets Research
Figure 5: ETS assumed sectoral burden sharing, Figure 6: ETS, assumed average residual
2013-20 (Mt) abatement required, 2013-20 (Mt)
At the same time, we think that the Commission will As a result, assuming that the full renewable-energy
interpret the supplementarity criterion governing the target were met by 2020, the ETS sector would have a
use of CDM/JI credits in the ETS more strictly beyond remaining gap to cover via domestic abatement
2010 in order to reflect the increased reliance on its measures within the ETS of 82Mt per year over 2008-
supply-side targets for renewable energy and the 12, Figure 6.
construction of CCS plants laid down in its energy policy
Indeed, the 82Mt number is conservative to the extent
out to 2020. We therefore assume the Commission will
that we have above assumed that the target for
allow only 45% of each Member State’s “effort
achieving 20% of primary-energy consumption from
required” to be met via the use of CDM/JI credits over
renewable sources by 2020 is achieved in full. Evidently,
2013-20.
if the target is not achieved in full, then other things
being equal the emissions savings will be lower and the
residual abatement required by the ETS sector
(3) and this is bullish for EUA prices in both correspondingly higher. As a result, a range of 80-
Phase 2 & Phase 3 100Mt per year for the residual abatement required
In order to work out the EUA price implied by our within the ETS seems a reasonable assumption to
assumed “effort required”, we need to calculate the make.
residual amount of abatement required within the ETS. Moreover, we do not think it will be possible for ETS
To do this, we need to answer two questions: installations to cover their entire EUA shortfall over
Phase 2 from CERs/ERUs either, and that up to 30Mt
per year of abatement will have to be achieved via fuel
(i) What will be the impact of the policy measures switching in the power-generation sector over 2008-12.
relating to the target for sourcing 20% of all
primary-energy consumption from renewable
sources by 2020? If we assume that this full And crucially, Phases 2 and 3 of the ETS are linked
saving is achieved by 2020, then this translates via the bankability of Phase-2 EUAs into Phase 3.
into average annual emissions savings over 2011-
20 of 143Mt if we further assume that this is In other words, any EUAs that are not used in Phase 2
achieved in linear fashion over this period. are carried over as a matter of course into Phase 3. In
In turn, this would mean that of the 366Mt other words, there is mandatory 100% banking of
average annual “effort required” for the ETS surplus permits between Phase 2 and Phase 3, as is
sector, 143Mt would be expected to be achieved clear from Article 13 of Directive that governs the ETS
through the Commission’s renewable-energy (Directive 2003/87/EC, 13 October 2003, available at
targets, leaving a gap of 223Mt to cover. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/_en.htm).
(ii) How many CERs/ERUs will be available to the ETS The relevant paragraphs of this article are 13.2 (which
sector? We assume that Member States will use relates to banking arrangements between Phases 1 and
106Mt of CERs/ERUs per year over 2008-12. Since 2), and 13.3 (which relates to banking arrangements
we have assumed a total annual CER/ERU limit of between Phases 2 and 3). The big difference in these
247Mt (Figure 5), this means that the remaining arrangements is that the Directive states that banking
amount available for the ETS sector on our of surplus Phase-1 permits into Phase 2 is at the
estimates would be 141Mt per year, Figure 6.
discretion of Member States between Phases 1 and 2, opportunities at the moment would allow for nearly
but is mandatory between Phases 2 and 3: 100Mt per year of emissions abatement per year.
Over time, however, as more gas plant is built across
Europe, this number will increase, so we would argue
“13§2. Four months after the beginning of the that it is reasonable to assume that the full residual
first five-year period referred to in Article 11(2), abatement required by the ETS sector over 2013-20 will
allowances which are no longer valid and have not be achievable via fuel switching.
been surrendered and cancelled in accordance
So what are the economics of fuel switching, and
with Article 12(3) shall be cancelled by the
hence the implications for carbon prices in the ETS over
competent authority. Member States may issue
Phase 3? To answer this question we make the
allowances to persons for the current period to
following assumptions on the key variables:
replace any allowances held by them which are
cancelled in accordance with the first (i) An average oil price over 2013-20 of
subparagraph. $60/boe, this being the long-term forecast
of DB’s Commodities Research team.
13§3. Four months after the beginning of each
(ii) A gas price of Euro 0.64/therm. At $60/boe
subsequent five year period referred to in Article
this represents the average of the thermal
11(2), allowances which are no longer valid and
equivalent gas price (Euro 0.72/therm) and
have not been surrendered and cancelled in
the Troll index price (Euro 0.56/therm).
accordance with Article 12(3) shall be cancelled by
the competent authority. Member States shall (iii) A coal price of $60/t with transportation
issue allowances to persons for the current period costs of $20/t
to replace any allowances held by them which are
(iv) A carbon price of EUR35/tonne
cancelled in accordance with the first
subparagraph.” (Our emphasis.) (v) Thermal efficiency of 57% for UK gas
plant, 37-43% for coal, and 37% for lignite
What this means is that we effectively need to
(vi) A Euro/$ exchange rate of 1.38, and a
consider the entire 13 years covered by Phases 2
and 3 as one period, and thus to average our £/Euro exchange rate of 1.48
projected annual deficit over 2008-20. This results in
On our assumption of a carbon price of EUR35/tonne,
a total expected residual abatement requirement in
we believe gas would start to look economic against
the ETS of 950Mt over the 13-year period, and
hence an average annual residual abatement coal in the UK, and fuel switching would therefore start
requirement over 2008-20 of 73Mt. to happen at this level.
100%, and to cap the use not only of CERs/ERUs, but Trade Recommendation:
also of EUAs.
• We are bullish on Phase-2 EUAs, as they
currently trade at around E23.5/t for
We do not expect Parliament’s proposals to be
2008 delivery and we think they are
accepted in full, and assume in particular that the idea
worth Euro 35/t on fundamentals
of capping the use of EUAs in the ATS will be rejected.
On our estimates, the demand from airlines for EUAs
will increase the average annual residual abatement
requirement in the ETS over 2008-12 to 60Mt from
30Mt. Mark Lewis, (33) 1 4495 6761
mark-c.lewis@db.com
Moreover, with Parliament clearly signalling that
aviation’s emissions will have to be aggressively limited
over Phase 3 as well, we now assume an increase of
60Mt in the average annual abatement required within
the ETS over 2013-20, to 160Mt from 100Mt.
Bali Roadmap
#18 US Carbon Trading The Kyoto Protocol binds virtually every industrialized
country (but not the US due to its refusal to ratify) to
Climate Legislation Outlook reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases
by 5.2% compared to the year 1990. Kyoto expires in
• Despite the US failure to ratify the Kyoto
2012. The Bali meeting was intended to work out the
Protocol, and a recalcitrant role at the recent
details of an agreement with a goal of having a new
Bali Conference, a national system to regulate
protocol in place by 2009. Based on a recommendation
emissions of GHGs is likely to take effect in
in the IPCC synthesis report, the European Union
the US by the start of year 2012.
wanted reductions of 25% to 40% by 2020. The lack of
• The Lieberman-Warner (L-W) proposal for a US binding targets for developing countries persuaded
carbon cap-and-trade system is the likely representatives from the US, Canada, Australia and
template for final US legislation on this topic. Japan to object to text that included any direct
reference to the 25% to 40% reduction. Nevertheless,
• L-W was approved by a key US Senate
Bali marked the first such international negotiation at
committee in December 2007 and is likely to
which the US did not rule out accepting binding limits in
be scheduled for a full Senate vote in 2008. It
the future. Despite the continued foot-dragging of the
covers six primary GHGs: CO2, methane,
current Administration, the timetable for the negotiating
nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, as well as
process is set to culminate in 2009 when a new
hydro- and per-fluorocarbons
President will be sitting in the White House. The US
• L-W would set caps on CO2 equivalent did agree to language that approves "measurable,
emissions in the electric power, industrial, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate
commercial, and transportation sectors, It mitigation commitments or actions" and calls for
provides for partial auctioning of entitlements, "quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives,
and allows some use of both domestic and by all developed country Parties".
international GHG allowances.
Spurs to US Action
• The consensus view in Washington is that In October 2007, former US vice president Al Gore and
“final” law on this topic is likely to be signed the IPCC were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
by the new President in 2010. Gore’s documentary film An Inconvenient Truth
popularized the scientific message of the IPCC, and
• We believe that curbing CO2 emissions will
politicians in Washington and industry executives were
alter the energy mix, increase energy-related
taking note.
costs, and require reductions in demand
growth. Earlier in the year (April 2007), the US Supreme Court
ruled that “the harms associated with climate change
are serious and well recognized” in a case involving the
A political consensus is forming in the US around a
refusal of the US Environmental Protection Agency
central set of climate law provisions that include
(EPA) to regulate GHG emissions from motor vehicles.
federally-enforced caps on GHGs and “traded” markets
The Supreme Court found that GHGs fit well within the
in carbon dioxide (CO2) and equivalents (CO2e).
Clean Air Act’s definition of an “air pollutant” and that
Although the US never ratified the Kyoto Protocol,
the EPA has a statutory mandate to regulate such
public pressure for the US to actively participate in the
emissions from new motor vehicles.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) is growing rapidly. During the course of 2007, a number of state
governments began to implement their own individual
(and regional) GHG emission initiatives and the
During the course of 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel opposition of many industrial and commercial firms to
on Climate Change (IPCC) issued four reports that federal GHG regulation began to turn in favor of
assessed the scientific aspects of the climate system Congressional action in order to avoid the potential
and climate change, the vulnerability of economic, chaos of numerous and conflicting state mandates.
social and natural systems, and options for limiting or
Congressional Activity
mitigating GHGs. A synthesis report was published in
In August 2007, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and
November 2007, in time to provide key conclusions for
John Warner (R-VA) released a detailed outline for a
policy makers attending the UNFCCC conference in Bali,
federal GHG cap-and-trade system. The Lieberman-
Indonesia.
Warner proposal drew ideas from other climate change
bills, including the Bingaman-Specter bill introduced
earlier in the year by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
and Arlen Specter (R-PA). The Lieberman-Warner bill
was debated and fine-tuned over the course of
September and October, and on December 5 was The direct allocation provision of ACSA provides for
approved by the full Senate Committee on Environment issuance of allowances each year in a total amount
and Public Works (EPW), chaired by Senator Barbara that equals the cap for that year. Each year, a share
Boxer (D-CA). of the allowances are allocated, at no cost, for a number
of purposes, including a long and complicated list that
America’s Climate Security Act (“ACSA”), as the bill is
includes allocations for early adopters, individual states,
titled, is currently seen as the most likely vehicle for any
low-income electricity and natural gas consumers,
federal legislation on climate change in the US and the
carbon capture and sequestration, power plants,
preferred template for further Congressional action.
agricultural and forestry programs, energy intensive
According to attorneys at VanNess Feldman, ACSA
manufacturers (iron, steel, aluminum, pulp, paper,
would place a declining cap on US emissions of the six
cement, chemicals and such other products as EPA
primary greenhouse gases. A general cap applies to
may specify), landfill and coal mine methane reduction
certain emissions of CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur
projects.and others. The remainder are allocated to the
hexafluoride, perfluorocarbon, and certain byproduct
Climate Change Credit Corporation to be auctioned,
HFCs. A separate cap applies to HFCs produced in, or
with the proceeds to be devoted to funding energy
imported into, the United States. The cap is expressed
technology deployment, including advanced vehicle
in metric tons of CO2 equivalents (CO2e). In 2012, total
technologies and advanced coal and sequestration
emissions attributable to covered facilities would be
technologies; energy assistance to consumers; a
capped at 2005 levels. In 2020, the cap would be set at
Climate Change Worker Training Program; an adaptation
1990 levels. By 2050, the cap would drop to 70%
program, and sustainable energy programs.
below 2005 levels. Between 2012 and 2050, the cap
declines from 5.775 billion tons in 2012 to 1.732 billion
tons in 2050. During the 38 intervening years, the cap
ACSA provides for limited offsets and international
would decline by 106 million tons each year.
trading. “Domestic Offsets” under which a covered
ACSA provides for a combination of allocation and facility would be able to satisfy up to 15% of a given
auctions for distributing allowances. It would year’s compliance obligation with domestically
impose direct allowance surrender requirements on the generated offset allowances. The legislation provides
owners and operators of the following facilities and for “International Trading” via a mechanism to allow up
entities: to 15% of emission allowances to be obtained on a
foreign GHG emissions trading market certified by EPA.
(1) that uses more than 5,000 tons of coal in a year; (2)
This provision would foreclose use of credits from
that is a natural gas processing plant or that produces
project-based reductions from developing countries,
natural gas in the State of Alaska, or any entity that
including through the Clean Development Mechanism
imports natural gas (including liquefied natural gas; (3)
(CDM). According to experts at Van Ness Feldman, it
that in any year produces, or any entity that in any year
appears that only European Union (EU) allowances
imports, petroleum- or coal-based liquid or gaseous fuel;
would be eligible.
(4) that in any year produces for sale or distribution, or
any entity that in any year imports, more than 10,000
CO2 equivalents of chemicals that are GHGs; and (5)
Conclusions
that in any year emits as a byproduct of the production
The momentum behind US climate legislation has built
of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) more than 10,000
rapidly, although the consensus view in Washington is
CO2 equivalents of HFCs.
that “final” law on this topic is unlikely to be signed
Coal combustion is regulated downstream, based on ahead of the US elections in 2008. It is becoming
the CO2 emissions of the coal-burning facility. Natural increasingly likely that a national system to regulate
gas and petroleum fuels (and coal-based liquid or emissions of GHGs will take effect in the US by the
gaseous fuels) would be regulated upstream. start of year 2012, and the shape of that system is
being moulded now. We believe that curbing CO2
The bill would establish a Carbon Market Efficiency
emissions will alter the energy fuels mix in the US,
Board to oversee the carbon trading market and make
increase energy-related costs, and could require
adjustments to the emissions cap and borrowing terms
reductions in demand growth if carbon technology is
if the price of emission allowances exceeds
slow in being developed.
expectations. The legislation also directs the US EPA to
establish a clear legal and regulatory framework for
carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Carbon
constraints could dramatically alter the energy mix – Adam Sieminski (1) 212 250 2928
favoring gas at the expense of coal – and CCS) is adam.sieminski@db.com
deemed necessary by virtually all economists to
preserve some balance in the existing global
infrastructure for energy supply and delivery.
Supply: Production disruptions and delays remain Figure 2: New mines are coming – but will it be
the greatest risk enough?
Much like in 2006, production disruptions were one of
100 New M ines
the primary drivers of price volatility and dominated Other Secondary Supply
90 HEU Feed
uranium market headlines. In the first quarter of 2007, Prim ary m ine supply
80 Dem and
we estimated primary mine supply for the year to be at
70
47.7KtU (124.1Mlbs) but have now revised that figure
60
to 44.5Ktu (115.6Mlbs). In fact, due to producer
KtU
50
production revisions we have adjusted our primary mine
40
supply estimates every year.
30
20
Figure 1: Comparison of DB production estimates 10
in 2007 and 2008 0
tU 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Estimate in 200747,727 45,273 49,756 51,385 51,462 52,224 Source: WNA, UxC, DB Global Markets Research
Estimate in 200844,450 44,450 44,450 44,450 44,450 44,450
Difference tU -3,276 -823 -5,306 -6,935 -7,012 -7,774
Difference % -6.9% -1.8% -10.7% -13.5% -13.6% -14.9%
Source: WNA, UxC, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research Demand – The growing popularity of nuclear power
Amid the global clamour over greenhouse gas
The strong demand outlook and sharp price appreciation
emissions, nuclear generated electricity – which emits
piloted a resurrection of the uranium mining sector.
almost none – is currently undergoing a resurgence in
Since the late 1980s, secondary supply (ie recycled
popularity. We expect that as the world progressively
material and downgraded highly enriched uranium) has
turns to placing a price on carbon emissions, more and
filled the gap between primary mined supply of U3O8
more energy policy makers will look to nuclear power
and demand. Given secondary supply is finite, mined
as an alternative. There are multiple economic, political,
social and environmental dimensions to this discourse Figure 5: Existing and projected nuclear power
and we believe that greater awareness of the effects of plants, 2007-2015
pollutants emitted from the traditional sources of 2015 Total
energy generation is a positive development for the Current New Reactor Capaci % Chg
MWe
prospects of greater uptake of nuclear generated reactors Builds Shutdown ty by MWe
electricity. Many studies (including our own) have s 2015
shown that in the absence of financial penalties for Asia
China 11 8828 16 0 24888
emitting pollutants, nuclear power plants are not
India 19 4183 5 0 8755
economically competitive to other electricity generating
Japan 55 47591 10 0 60099
technologies. However, given the increasing
Korea 20 17606 7 0 25456
acceptance and eventual adoption of carbon taxes and
Pakistan 2 425 1 0 725
international carbon trading schemes, we think nuclear 6 4884 2 4 10840
Taiwan
power will become more economically attractive. Total 113 83517 42 4 125166 50%
the recent decision by Russian aluminium giant Rusal to Czech Rep 6 3472 2 0 3524
use two nuclear reactors to power a new aluminium Bulgaria 4 2722 2 2 5538
Hungary 4 1755 0 0 1755
smelter.
Lithuania 1 1185 1 1 3370
Romania 2 1361 0 0 1361
Figure 3: Distribution of current nuclear capacity Russia 31 21743 17 2 37530
Slovakia 6 2442 2 2 4098
Asia Slovenia 1 686 0 0 686
22%
North Am erica Ukraine 15 13330 3 0 16330
30% Total 71 49072 27 8 68514 40%
2.00
90.00
The most significant change to our model during this
1.00
80.00 review is an expectation of a market surplus between
70.00 2009 and 2013. What tipped this estimation away from
0.00 60.00 our previously forecast deficit was a trimmed down
Aug-06 Dec-06 Apr-07 Aug-07 Dec-07
demand scenario by the WNA from their previous
Source: UxC, DB Global Markets Research projection in 2005. We note, however, that the WNA
consistently underestimates demand, even in their
upper case scenarios. Therefore we believe the risk in
this outlook lies to the upside.
Figure 7: DB U3O8 market balance vs price Figure 9: Prices will continue upward trajectory
140
3500 110.00
120
100
-500 80.00
80
60
-4500 50.00
M arket Balance, tU (lhs)
40 M onth-end spot, USD/lb
U3O8 Price, USD/lb (rhs)
20 M onth-end LT price, USD/lb
-8500 20.00
Linear (M onth-end spot, USD/lb)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 0
Dec-04 Dec-05 Dec-06 Dec-07 Dec-08
Source: WNA, UxC, DB Global Markets Research
Source: UxC, DB Global Markets Research
Price outlook
Akin to the past two years, production trends will
continue to have significant impact on prices in 2008. If Conclusion
the current primary mined supply comes to market as Given the profile of new reactor builds already
guided by the world’s producers, we are unlikely to see announced and the prospects for an even greater
a sharp move upward. However, if production again resurgence in atomic power’s popularity, the demand
ends up falling short of target in 2008 similar to the past for U3O8 will remain strong in the coming years. At the
two years, we expect spot prices could easily re-test same time, persistent delays on the supply-side will
the highs of 2007. keep the market balance tight. In the longer-term, we
expect that prices will eventually head back down
The uranium price certainly has the propensity to rise closer to long-term average as a result of increased
sharply, what remains to be seen is if the price can stay investment in exploration and production. However until
high for a longer period of time. We have argued in the then, prospects in the uranium market certainly remain
past that the last time prices tracked above the long- positive.
term real price average, it lasted for 10 years. If history
is to repeat itself, this cycle is only in its infancy, Figure Joel Crane (1) 212 250 5253
XX. joel.crane@db.com
160.00 USD/lb
Nom inal
Real (2006 constant)
140.00
LT Real Average Price
120.00
100.00
60.00
1974 - 1984 2006 - ????
40.00
20.00
-
1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007
•
400 Ni 1.9%, Sn 0.5%.
Bulk commodities like iron ore, coking coal
350
and thermal coal are making new price highs 300
37 44 44 30
m onths m onths m onths m onths
driven by shortages in supply, infrastructure 250
bottlenecks and strong demand. This pattern 200
•
Aug-69 Feb-75 Jul-80 Jan-86 Jul-91 Dec-96 Jun-02 Dec-07
We believe the iron ore market will continue
to tighten over the next two years. We have Base M etal Index Australian iron ore fines
The bulk commodities of iron ore and coal are taking In Figure 2 we track the value of the seaborne bulk
centre stage in this commodity review. While we commodity markets including the significant price
believe that base metal prices have generally seen the increases we have put through in this review. We
peak this cycle, bulk commodities like iron ore, coking expect that the continuing demand for the bulk
coal and thermal coal are making new price highs driven commodities combined with continuing impediments to
by shortages in supply, infrastructure bottlenecks and producer growth will mean that bulk consumers will
strong demand. This pattern of rising bulk commodity need to pay even more for the products over the
prices after peaks in base metal prices has been evident coming years. It is worth noting that these figures
in preceding cycles and we believe will also be the case perhaps understate the total value as we have assumed
in this cycle. The chart below highlights this case with all trades are priced on contract pricing terms.
the Australian fines iron ore price used as the example.
We see here that it took between 30 and 44 months
Figure 2: Global seaborne bulks market and
from the downturn in base metal prices to reach the
downturn in iron ore prices. value, 2000 -2009
180 US$bn
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E
The spot/ short-term contract prices remain significantly Figure 4: Baltic capesize freight rates on key
above the 2007 term contract prices and provide a routes
ready barometer of the short-term supply demand
100
status for the markets…ie. A high pressure zone! This Australia to China
difference provides a positive bargaining chip for the Brazil to China
80 Freight Differential
producers in the current price negotiations. We expect
that the ongoing market tightness into the medium
60
term will mean that the steel producers and utilities will
USD/tonne
be required to pay up for raw materials in 2008 and into
40
2009.
20
Figure 3: Spot prices vs 2007 contract prices
0
200%
Jan-00 Jul-01 Jan-03 Jul-04 Jan-06 Jul-07
180%
160% Source: Reuters, Deutsche Bank estimates
140%
120% Direct tightness in shipping capacity is not the only
100% driver of the higher freight rates. Infrastructure
80%
congestion globally has meant that ships are often
60%
unable to be loaded in planned timetable resulting in
40%
20%
many ships being held up at port – reducing the
0% effective shipping capacity even further. The export coal
Iron ore fines Coking coal Thermal coal port of Newcastle in Australia is a prime example of the
impacts of infrastructure congestion with the vessel
Source: CRU, McCloskey, DB estimates queue reaching ~80 ships in June of 2007 and still well
above long-term levels with the queue sitting at 52
Shipping rates also continue to pressure prices. Bulk ships in mid December as shown in the chart below.
commodities are by definition “bulky” and require large
amounts of shipping capacity to move around. Figure 5: Newcastle vessel queue size
Increasing demand for bulk commodities globally and a
90
shipping industry that has not been able to increase
80
capacity as rapidly as needed has driven shipping rates
up by as much as 16x over the last 5 years as shown in 70
10
Increases in shipping rates have not been equal across 0
regions and has led to some key rate differential Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
The iron ore market continues to tighten with recent We outline key points on this bullish assessment:
spot price movements again highlighting strong
demand while providing a positive lead for iron ore Spot iron ore prices into China from India have been
producers in the current contract negotiations. We have trending higher and are currently close to US$190/t CIF,
raised our price assumptions to +45% for lump and but slightly below the US$210/t recorded in November.
fines (prev +25%) for JFY 2008 and remain at +10% for Freight rates have remained at close to record highs in
JFY 2009, implying contract prices in 2009 will be December. By comparison Brazilian iron ore on a
around 60% higher than those being received currently. delivered contract basis (CIF) is selling for around
For pellets we assume a broadly similar profile. We USD137/t CIF and Australian production for around
maintain our previous view of the profile of price USD87/t. The FOB price for iron ore fines is around
declines from 2010-2012 but from a higher base. We USD50/t in JFY 2007. An increase of +45% in contract
expect that JFY2010 will be the year that the supply prices would lift the delivered price of Australian ore to
side catches up to demand and expect to see the prices around US$110/t and Brazilian to around US$150/t – still
declining from then but remaining at elevated levels by below the price being paid for iron ore from India at
historic standards. Our long term prices remain spot prices.
unchanged following the review in Q3 when we
increased our LT assumptions by around 58%. Figure 7:Spot iron ore prices go stratospheric
iron ore. Furthermore, the slowing growth in steel Recent Chinese customs statistics on the iron ore and
production appears to be more a production steel side show no let up in demand for iron ore.
phenomenon than a drop in steel demand with steel China's iron ore imports rose 24% YoY in November to
prices continuing to rise. In our opinion, it will be 35.4Mt. YTD imports are +17% to 349Mt. We expect a
difficult for the key steel producers to “cry poor” in the strong finish to the year if supply is willing and still see
current iron ore price negations with steel prices around 385Mt of imports for 2007.
continuing to climb as shown in the chart below.
Domestic iron ore production in China is struggling to
Figure 8: CRU steel price index – Domestic HRC match demand and grades are declining. Production
prices during the January – October 2007 period increased
22% YoY to 566Mt, while in October output rose
900 13.6% YoY to 60Mt. We see domestic output
800 increasing to around 720Mt in 2007 and are forecasting
700
a further 11% increase in 2008.
600
500
400 Figure 10: Domestic iron ore production is
300 leveling out and grades are lower
200
Mt
100
1000
0
Jan-00 Jul-01 Jan-03 Jul-04 Jan-06 Jul-07
800
Japan China Germ any
600
Source: CRU
400
Currency movements will also be providing a spur for
producers at the negotiating table in the current price 200
negotiations in our opinion. Since the contract prices
were last agreed (24th December 2006) the 0
1998 2001 2004 2007E 2010E 2013E
movements in the relative currencies has meant that
Brazilian producers are now receiving 9% less for their Source: IISI, UNCTAD, TEX, SSY Group, Deutsche Bank Global Markets
Research
ore in the local currency (despite a 10% price rise in
April 2007!), Australian producers are receiving 2% less
while the Chinese and Japanese consumers are paying On the back of 12.5% growth in crude steel production
2% and 5% more respectively (not a bad outcome for in 2008 we expect imports to increase by 55Mt to
the consumers in a tightening iron ore price 440Mt. Beyond this, we expect China to continue to
environment). The chart below shows the relative price grow its imports by around 50-70mt pa between 2009
movements for contract iron ore fines in local and 2013. For this reason the major iron ore producers
currencies since the last price settlements (prices set to have announced capacity expansions with around
1 on 24th December 2006). 400Mt of capacity coming on stream between 2007-
2009, according to AME, with additional expansion
plans beyond this articulated.
Figure 9: Relative fines iron ore price movements
in varying currencies
Figure 11: Chinese iron ore imports, 1997-2007
1.20 Australia
Japan 400 50%
1.15 Brazil Mt
China 40%
1.10
300
30%
1.05
20%
1.00 200
10%
0.95
0%
100
0.90
-10%
0.85
0 -20%
Dec-06 M ar-07 Jun-07 Sep-07 Dec-07 Nov-97 Nov-99 Nov-01 Nov-03 Nov-05 Nov-07
Source: Datastream, Company data, Deutsche Bank estimates 12 month rolling total, Mt (lhs) % chg (rhs)
Source: Reuters
In the chart below we highlight the anticipated growth Figure 14: Chinese iron ore imports LT
in seaborne trade of iron ore primarily driven by the 800 Mt
strength of demand from China. 700
600
Figure 12: Iron ore seaborne trade vs benchmark
500
price (FOB), 2000-2010
400
Mt USc/Dmtu
1000 145
300
700 85 0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E 2010E 2011E 2012E 2013E
500 45
The figure below has a summary version of our updated
400 25
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008E 2010E supply and demand model for iron ore.
Seaborne trade Iron Ore Fines Benchmark Price
Source: TEX, UNCTAD, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research Figure 15: DB Iron Ore Supply/Demand Model
Mt 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E 2010E
Our near-term forecasts continue to reflect the strength Apparent Demand
1545 1695 1830 1941 2062 2162
in the iron ore market. We have adjusted both short and for Iron Ore
medium term prices upwards to reflect both the Total World
1525 1789 1989 2159 2309 2423
tightness in the iron ore market, cost pressures and Production
also rising capital costs. Demand satisfied
703 750 828 893 964 1032
by Imports
Figure 13: Iron ore fines and lump prices Fines Prices -
Benchmark 62.7 74.6 81.7 122.6 134.8 118.0
200 Hamersley lump (USc/Dltu - FOB)
180 Hamersley fines Source: IISI, UNCTAD, TEX, SSY Group, Deutsche Bank Global Markets
160
Tubarao pellets Research
140
USc/Dltu - FOB
Figure 16: Chinese metallurgical coal exports vs increase in metallurgical coal exports in 2007 was at the
price, 2003-2007 expense of growth in thermal coal exports.
Kt
1,600 Exports
Imports
Figure 18: Australian coal exports
1,400
1,200 140 Mt
1,000 120
800 100
600
80
400
60
200
40
0
Nov-03 Nov-04 Nov-05 Nov-06 Nov-07 20
Source: Reuters, CRU
0
YE Jun 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Coke prices are also on the rise reflecting strong Metallurgical Thermal
underlying demand for carbon units in key Asian Source: ABARE, Deutsche Bank estimates
markets. The tightness in the coke market is highlighted
below with Chinese export prices increasing by Australia remains the dominant supplier of metallurgical
US$150/t since our last quarterly review and are coal to the global markets as shown in the chart below
currently tracking close to US$400/t. Coke prices are – consequently Australia’s ability to grow its exports
expected to rise further due to the export tax. We through its infrastructure will be a key component in the
expect Chinese exports of metallurgical coke and semi- supply/demand mix for coking coal.
coke to exceed 15Mt in 2007, up around 6% YoY.
Figure 19: Australia – dominant in the premium
Figure 17: Chinese metallurgical coke exports vs hard coking coal market
price, 2002-2007
Poland Other
2,500 450
Kt US$/t 1% 5%
400
2,000 350 Canada
300
16%
1,500
250
200
1,000
150
USA
500 100
16% Australia
50
62%
- 0
Jan-02 Sep-02 M ay-03 Jan-04 Sep-04 M ay-05 Jan-06 Sep-06 M ay-07
Chinese coke exports (LHS) Chinese export coke price (RHS)
Source: Reuters
Source: Reuters
Figure 20: Metallurgical coal price profiles Figure 22: DB Metallurgical Coal Supply/Demand Model
Mt 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E 2010E
160
Mt Total metallurgical coal
140 228 223 236 243 254 259
imports for coke making
120
Total seaborne
100 172 175 183 191 202 207
metallurgical coal trade
80
Surplus/Deficit in
60 -2.6 -2.9 -3.6 -4.6 -0.4 1.0
seaborne market
40
Premium hard coking
20 127 114 94 150 143 129
coal (JFY)(US$/t)
0
Standard hard coking
125 105 85 139 132 118
coal (JFY)(US$/t)
P remium hard co king co al Standard hard co king co al Semi-Soft Coking Coal
Semi-So ft Co king Co al Lo w Vo latilie P CI Co al 80 58 62 93 80 72
(US$/t)
Source: IISI, MCIS, TEX, WEFA, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research
Low Volatilie PCI Coal
102 68 68 107 92 83
(US$/t)
In addition we have also made significant revisions Source: IISI, MCIS, TEX, WEFA, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research
across the profile to semi-soft coking and low volatile
pci coal prices. We continue to see supply side issues,
particularly in Australia, and also strong demand for PCI
coals as steel makers look to increase injection rates Mined Energy
given the tight coke market. For semi-soft and low vol
PCI coals we do see increased supply during 2008/2009
which should translate into weaker but still elevated
Thermal Coal
prices during FY09.
A combination of positive Asian thermal coal market
developments, supply infrastructure issues and rising
Figure 21: Seaborne coking coal trade vs prices A$ and Rand through 2007 have been positive
250 160
influences on thermal coal prices with spot prices at
Mt record highs.
140
200
120
100
150 Congestion at the Port of Newcastle due to a shortage
80
of capacity in the Hunter Valley coal chain has continued
100
60 with few immediate signs of easing. The Australian
50
40 Corporate Regulator (ACCC) has approved a
20 continuation of the existing export quota system (CBS)
0 0 for 2008, rejecting the proposal by the terminal
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007E 2008E 2009E 2010E
operators for a new system based on rail contracts. The
Seaborne coking im ports (LHS) Hard coking coal price (RHS)
continued use of the export quota system and the lack
Source: IISI, MCIS, TEX, WEFA, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research of immediate capacity growth will limit thermal exports
in Australia to just 2.5% growth of 114Mt, in our view,
In the table below we show our revised supply demand which should help underpin coal prices into 2009.
model which incorporates some significant adjustments During 2007 shipping allocations in the port of
reflecting market developments in H207 and further Newcastle were cut by 9Mt to 82Mt and if achieved will
updates on actual traded volumes. represent only 2% grow over the year.
shortly with but prediction that prices would be up by Price developments during 2007 were all one-way
($4- $7/t) which would mean a new QHD price for traffic. Key developments are highlighted below:
domestic coal in the mid-late 60s per tonne adjusted to
an export quality of 5,800kc NAR and while it would • In March contract negotiations between
seem logical to expect higher exports given the strong Japanese utilities and Australia suppliers were
Asian spot price at greater than US$90/t, strong settled +6% to US$55.7/t.
domestic demand and tightening rail capacity could
keep exports relatively constrained. Recent export • In May, China-Japan LT contracts for JFY2007
prices ex Qinhuangdao are being quoted in the US$96- were partially settled at a price of US$67.9/t,
98/t range. +28% on the previous year. Tonnage
allocations were also cut reflecting lower
Figure 23: Chinese thermal coal net exports, availability.
2002 - 2007
9000
• In October, Xstrata settled mid year contracts
Kt
with the JPU’s at US$78/t reflecting the
8000
continued run up in spot prices.
7000
6000
• In late 2007, AME highlighted Korea Western
5000
Power awarded contracts for 1Mt from
4000 Russian, Australian and Indonesian producers
3000 for 2008 deliveries with the Russian priced at
2000 US$80/t.
1000
100 US$ /t
400
10% 90
300 80
8% 70
200 60
50
6%
100 40
30
0 4%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008E 2009E
20
Jan-02 N o v-02 Sep-03 Jul-04 M ay-05 M ar-06 Jan-07 N o v-07
Asian import demand for thermal coal YoY % chg (RHS)
fo b - R ichards B ay fo b - N ewcastle
Source: CRU, Reuters, Deutsche Bank Global Markets Research
Source: Reuters
Commodities Chartbook
Commodity consumption around the world relative to per capita income
5 Italy
2.5
Japan Australia
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, BP Yearbook (2006) Source: DB Global Markets Research, CPM Group, IMF (2006)
Germany Taiwan
25 25
South Korea US
20 Taiwan Japan 20 Sweden
Korea
Italy Australia Germany
15 15
Italy
Sweden
France 10 Japan
10
Thailand Canada
France
China
Russia UK Thailand Russia US
5 China Australia
5 Venezuela
Brazil Indonesia Mexico UK
Indonesia India Brazil
India Mexico 0
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
GDP per capita ('000)
GDP per capita ('000)
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Brook Hunt (2006) Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Brook Hunt (2006)
1.6
Nickel consumption (Kg per capita)
10
1.4 Germany
1.2 8
Italy
Germany
1.0
6 Italy
0.8 Canada
Japan
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Brook Hunt (2006) Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Brook Hunt (2006)
Commodities Chartbook
Commodity consumption around the world relative to per capita income
Japan Taiwan
1000 12
South Korea South Korea
Iron Ore consumption (Kg per capita)
8
600 Russia Sweden
Venezuela Taiwan Germany
Germany 6
400 Canada
China Japan
Brazil Canada
Italy
UK 4 France US
France Sweden
200 US
2 Russia
India UK
Brazil
0 India
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 China
0
GDP per capita ('000)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
GDP per capita ('000)
Source: DB Global Markets Research, Brook Hunt (2005), IMF Source: DB Global Markets Research, (2006)
35
Sugar consumption (Kg per capita)
Australia Canada
30 40 Canada
Russia
25 Mexico Venezuela Thailand
30 Taiwan US
20
Korea
15 Indonesia
20
Japan
10 South Korea India
Japan
China 10 China
5 Taiwan
India
0
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
GDP per capita ('000) GDP per capita ('000)
Source: DB Global Markets Research, USDA (2006), IMF Source: DB Global Markets Research USDA (2006), IMF
Figure 11: Corn consumption intensity Figure 12: Wheat consumption intensity
400
400
300 300
Mexico
Canada
250 250 Russia
Brazil
200 200
Taiwan
South Korea
150 150
Japan
China 100 China US
100 Venezuela
Venezuela
Mexico Korea
Thailand 50 India Japan
50 Brazil
Indonesia Thailand Taiwan
Russia Indonesia
India Australia 0
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
GDP per capita ('000) GDP per capita ('000)
Source: DB Global Markets Research, USDA (2006), IMF Source: DB Global Markets Research, USDA (2006), IMF
Commodities Chartbook
Commodities relative to G7 per capita income
Figure 1: Crude oil prices relative to per capita Figure 2: Gold & silver prices relative to per capita
income income
G7 per capita income divided by the price of oil 120 7000
G7 per capita income divided by precious metal prices
3000
Oil price decline helps to 100 Gold 6000
2500 boost the purchasing
Number of barrels of oil
Ounces
Ounces
1500 60
1970-2007 average
3000
`
1000 40
Higher oil prices cut 2000
the purchasing power
500 20
of a G7 consumer 1000
0
0 0
1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF
Figure 3: Industrial metal prices relative to per Figure 4: Lead & tin prices relative to per capita
capita income income
45 G7 per capita income divided by respective metal prices 7 9 G7 per capita income divided by 80
40 Copper 8 lead and tin prices
6 70
35 Zinc 7 Tin
60
5
Number of tonnes
Number of tonnes
Aluminium Lead
30 6
Nickel (rhs) 50
25 4 5
40
20 3 4
30
15 3
2
10 2 20
1 10
5 1
0 0 0 0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 5: Grain prices relative to per capita income Figure 6: Coal prices relative to per capita income
14000
Wheat
Number of bushels
800
12000
Tonnes
0 0
1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF
Commodities Chartbook
Commodity inventory-to-use ratios
US crude inventory cover of refinery runs (days) 6000 Kt Total com m ercial stocks (lhs) Weeks 16
27
Stock to consum ption ratio (rhs) 14
5000
25 Long-term equillibrium ratio (rhs)
12
4000
23 10
3000 8
21
6
2000
19 4
1000
17 2
0 0
15 3Q87 3Q89 3Q91 3Q93 3Q95 3Q97 3Q99 3Q01 3Q03 3Q05 3Q07
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
Source: DB Global Markets Research, EIA Source: Reuters, WBMS, DB Global Markets Research
2500 Kt Total com m ercial stocks (lhs) Weeks 12 300.0 Kt Total com m ercial stocks (lhs) Weeks 20
Long-term equillibrium ratio (rhs)
Stock to consum ption ratio (rhs)
250.0 Stock to consum ption ratio (rhs)
10
2000 Long-term equillibrium ratio (rhs) 16
8 200.0
1500 12
6 150.0
1000 8
100.0
4
4
500 50.0
2
0.0 0
0 0
3Q87 3Q89 3Q91 3Q93 3Q95 3Q97 3Q99 3Q01 3Q03 3Q05 3Q07
3Q87 3Q89 3Q91 3Q93 3Q95 3Q97 3Q99 3Q01 3Q03 3Q05 3Q07
Source: Reuters, ICSG, DB Global Markets Research Source: Reuters, INSG, DB Global Markets Research
100
9
800 80
6 60
400 40
3
20
0 0
0
3Q87 3Q89 3Q91 3Q93 3Q95 3Q97 3Q99 3Q01 3Q03 3Q05 3Q07 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Source: Reuters, ILZSG, DB Global Markets Research Source: DB Global Markets Research, USDA
Commodities Chartbook
Commodities prices in real terms
Figure 1: Crude oil prices in real terms Figure 2: Precious metal prices in real terms
0 0 0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg
Figure 3: Aluminium & zinc prices in real terms Figure 4: Copper & nickel prices in real terms
3000
20000
2000
10000
1000
0 0
1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg
Figure 5: Lead & tin prices in real terms Figure 6: Corn & wheat prices in real terms
4000 Deflated by US PPI Real lead price (2005 35000 Wheat price in real terms
20 Deflated by US PPI
US dollars, rhs) (2005 US dollars)
30000
Real tin price (2005 Corn price in real terms
3000 US dollars, lhs) (2005 US dollars)
25000 15
USD bushel
20000
2000
15000 10
`
10000
1000
5
5000
0 0
0
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
1972 1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008
Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg Source: DB Global Markets Research, IMF, Bloomberg
Commodities Chartbook
Commodity Forward Curves
Figure 1: WTI crude oil forward curve Figure 2: Aluminium forward curve
January 2008
January 2008
June 2007
September 2007
June 2007
September 2007
January 2008
June 2007
September 2007
January 2008
June 2007
September 2007
800
750
June 2007
700 Dec 2007
650
Commodities Chartbook
Credit Focus: Energy
Crude oil price vs. CDS spreads US natural gas price vs. CDS spreads
Figure 1: Occidental Petroleum CDS spreads and Figure 3: Burlington Resources, Inc. CDS spreads
the WTI crude oil price and the US natural gas price
80 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs) 15 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs)
70 2
Oil prices (WTI USD/bbl, inverted rhs)
US natural gas price (USD/mmBtu, inverted rhs)
70 25
60 4
35
60
50 6
45
50
55 40 8
40
65 30 10
30
75
20 12
20
85
10 14
10 95
0 105 0 16
Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-08
Figure 2: Conoco Phillips CDS spreads and the WTI Figure 4: Devon Energy Corporation-CDS spreads
crude oil price and the US natural gas price
70 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs) 15 110 0
5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs)
Oil prices (WTI USD/bbl, inverted rhs) 100
25 US natural gas price (USD/mmBtu, inverted rhs) 2
60
90
35
4
50 80
45
70 6
40 55
60
8
30 65 50
40 10
75
20
30
85 12
10 20
95 14
10
0 105
0 16
Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Jan-03 Jul-03 Jan-04 Jul-04 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
* A credit default swap allows one party to “buy” protection from another party for losses that might be incurred as a result of default
by a specified reference credit (or credits). The “buyer” of protection pays a premium for the protection, and the “seller” of protection
agrees to make a payment to compensate the buyer for losses incurred upon the occurrence of any one of several specified “credit
events.” Source: Moody’s
Commodities Chartbook
Credit Focus: Metals & Mining
Figure 1: Alcoa CDS spreads and the LME Figure 3: Phelps Dodge CDS spreads and the LME
aluminium spot price copper spot price
80 1,050 286 1,000
Alcoa 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs)
Phelps Dodge 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs)
Aluminium spot price (USD/metric ton, inverted rhs) 1,300 256 2,000
70 Copper spot price (USD/metric ton, inverted rhs)
1,550 226 3,000
60
1,800 196
4,000
50 2,050 166
5,000
2,300 136
40 6,000
2,550 106
30 7,000
2,800 76
3,050 8,000
20 46
3,300 9,000
16
10 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research, LME Source: DB Global Markets Research, LME
Figure 2: Inco CDS spreads and the LME nickel Figure 4: Barrick Gold CDS spreads and the gold
spot price spot price
140 Inco 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs) 2,000 55 Barrick Gold 5Y CDS spread (bp, lhs) 320
Gold spot price (US$/troy ounce, inverted rhs)
Nickel spot price (USD/metric ton, inverted rhs) 50
120 10,000
420
45
18,000
100 40
520
26,000 35
80
30 620
34,000
60 25
42,000 720
20
40
50,000 15 820
20 10
Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-05 Jul-05 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research, LME Source: DB Global Markets Research, LME
* A credit default swap allows one party to “buy” protection from another party for losses that might be incurred as a result of default
by a specified reference credit (or credits). The “buyer” of protection pays a premium for the protection, and the “seller” of protection
agrees to make a payment to compensate the buyer for losses incurred upon the occurrence of any one of several specified “credit
events.” Source: Moody’s
Commodities Chartbook
Equity Focus: Metals & Mining
Metals’ commodity prices versus stock market price
Figure 1: Alcoa stock price and the LME aluminium Figure 4: Freeport McMoRan stock price and the
spot price LME copper spot price
55 Alcoa share price (USD, lhs) 3500 130 Freeport McMoran share price (USD, lhs) 11000
Aluminium spot price (USD/tonne, rhs) 120 Copper spot price (USD/tonne, rhs)
50 10000
3200 110
100 9000
45
2900 90 8000
40 80
2600 70 7000
35
60 6000
30 2300 50
5000
40
25 2000
30 4000
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research Source: DB Global Markets Research
Figure 2: CVRD stock price and the LME nickel spot Figure 5: Newmont Mining stock price and the gold
price spot price
50 CVRD share price (USD, lhs) 70000 80 900
Newmont share price (lhs)
45 Nickel spot price (USD/tonne, rhs) 75
60000
Gold price (USD/oz, rhs)
40 70 800
35 50000 65
30 60 700
40000
25 55
20 30000 50 600
45
15
20000 40 500
10
35
5 10000
30 400
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research Source: DB Global Markets Research
Figure 3: Lonmin stock price and the platinum spot Figure 6: Xstrata stock price and spot thermal coal
price prices (Asia & Europe)
100 Lonmin share price (USD) 1650 90 Xstrata share price (lhs) 130
API#2 Coal price (Cal 07, USD/tonne, rhs)
90 Platinum price (USD/oz, rhs) 1550 80 120
API#4 Coal price (Cal 07, USD/tonne, rhs)
70 110
80 1450
100
70 1350 60
90
60 1250 50
80
50 1150 40
70
40 1050 30 60
30 950 20 50
20 850 10 40
Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jan-06 Jul-06 Jan-07 Jul-07
Source: DB Global Markets Research Source: DB Global Markets Research
Price Forecasts
Energy Price Forecasts
USD/barrel Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 LT
WTI-Brent 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
WTI-Maya 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.75 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
Brent-Dubai 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00 3.75 4.00 3.50 4.00 4.00 4.00 4.00
USD/mmBtu Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 LT
Natural gas 8.00 7.50 7.75 7.75 7.26 7.75 8.00 8.75 9.50 9.75 10.00
U308 USD/lb Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 LT
Uranium 105.0 120.0 125.0 125.0 97.8 119.0 116.0 95.0 75.0 65.0 46.0
US Refining Margins
USD/barrel Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 LT
East Coast 2-1-1 9.00 14.00 12.00 10.00 13.5 11.000 10.00 11.00 - - -
Gulf Coast 8.00 15.00 11.00 6.00 15.1 10.00 9.00 10.00 - - -
West Coast 5-3-2 18.00 28.00 22.00 16.00 23.70 18.00 21.00 21.00 - - -
Figures are period average; Source: DB Global Markets Research forecasts
Gold 850 900 925 965 698 909 863 780 650 600 525
Silver 15.50 16.20 16.60 16.80 13.4 16.28 15.7 14.2 12.0 10.7 9.00
Platinum 1560 1600 1630 1700 1305 1623 1540 1400 1210 1150 1081
Palladium 380 400 420 440 356 410 405 410 420 405 400
Price Forecasts
Industrial Metals’ Price Forecasts
Q108 Q208 Q308 Q408 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 LT
Aluminium
US cents/lb 114.0 120.0 125.0 127.0 119.8 121.5 121.8 110.0 105.0 100.0 98.0
USD/tonne 2513 2646 2756 2800 2641 2679 2684 2425 2315 2205 2161
Price revision -10% -7% -2% 2% -4% 11% 5% 2% 0% 0%
Copper
US cents/lb 315.0 320.0 335.0 330.0 321.6 325.0 306.3 250.0 230.0 200.0 150.0
USD/tonne 6945 7055 7385 7275 7091 7165 6752 5512 5071 4409 3307
Price revision -11% -9% 5% 8% -2% 12% 19% 15% 11% 0%
Lead
US cents/lb 115.0 108.0 102.0 97.0 117.2 105.5 76.8 65.0 55.0 50.0 45.0
USD/tonne 2535 2381 2249 2138 2583 2326 1692 1433 1213 1102 992
Price revision 0% -2% 7% 8% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Nickel
US cents/lb 1300.0 1350.0 1400.0 1325.0 1681.0 1343.8 1265.0 1110.0 1050.0 1000.0 800.0
USD/tonne 28660 29762 30865 29211 37060 29625 27888 24471 23149 22046 17637
Price revision -15% -10% -5% -9% -10% -2% 23% 35% 39% 0%
Tin
US cents/lb 730.0 690.0 650.0 600.0 655.7 667.5 452.5 400.0 380.0 375.0 350.0
USD/tonne 16094 15212 14330 13228 14456 14716 9976 8818 8378 8267 7716
Price revision 22% 20% 23% 18% 21% 7% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Zinc
US cents/lb 110.0 105.0 103.0 100.0 147.9 104.5 95.5 105.0 107.0 110.0 82.0
USD/tonne 2425 2315 2271 2205 3262 2304 2105 2315 2359 2425 1808
Price revision -21% -22% -21% -20% -21% -7% 14% 22% 29% 0%
Figures are period average and relate to the spot price; Source: DB Global Markets Research forecasts
API#2 – TFS API#2 ® average price index for coal delivered FOB: Free on Board – denotes commodity price loaded and
CIF ARA. cleared for export at load port, e.g. coal FOB Richards Bay,
South Africa.
API#4 – TFS API#4 ® average price index for coal loading
FOB Richards Bay, South Africa. Fuel oil (FO) – Dense refined oil product used to fuel ships
and generating stations.
ARA: Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp – major delivery hub
for cargo entering Northwest Europe. German Dark Spread: The spread between German
power and coal -- Dark Spread = German power –
Backwardation – Market condition in which forward coal/(2.65*EURUSD)
prices decline as tenor increases.
HDD: Heating degree day – deficit of daily average
Barrel (bbl): liquid measure of 42 US gallons. temperature below 65°F in US, 18°C elsewhere.
Bcf: Billion cubic feet – macro measure of natural gas Henry Hub: Louisiana delivery point for NYMEX natural
volume. gas.
Bpd: Barrels per day – measure for oil production or use. HSFO: High sulphur fuel oil.
Bunkers – Fuel oil used to power ships. LNG: Liquefied natural gas – can be shipped on special-
CAT: Cumulative average temperature. The sum of daily purpose tankers.
high + low)/2, usually over a month or season. mmBtu: million British Thermal Units – Natural gas heat-
CDD: Cooling degree day – excess of daily average content measure, approx. 1000 cubic feet.
temperature over 65°F; usually cumulated over time. PADD: Petroleum Area of Defense District – US regions
CIF: Cost, Insurance, and Freight – denotes commodity for petroleum market data, defined approximately as:
price delivered to destination, e.g. fuel oil CIF Rotterdam. PADD1 – East coast
Clean Spread: The spark spread minus the cost of PADD2 – Midwest
emissions.
PADD3 – Gulf coast
Contango – Market condition in which forward prices
increase as tenor increases. PADD4 – Inter-mountain west
Crack – Price spread between crude oil and refined PADD5 – West coast
product (after the refining process of “cracking” large Spark Spread: Price spread between electricity and the
molecules to make smaller). fuel (see also UK Spark Spread and German Dark Spread).
DBLCI: Deutsche Bank Liquid Commodities Index – tracks UK Spark Spread: The spark spread represents the
six commodities, rolling positions in crude oil and heating marginal value of selling UK electricity and buying UK
oil monthly, and in gold, aluminum, corn and wheat once natural gas for a gas fired power station. Market standard
per year. Reuters: DBLCI. Bloomberg: DBCM. DBLCI-MR: UK Spark Spread = UK power – UK Natural Gas * 0.6944
DBLCI-Mean-reverting – rule-based variant of the above;
under-weights those commodities amongst the six which Therm: 100,000 British Thermal Units, or 0.1 mmBtu
are expensive relative to their long-term average, and over- WTI: West Texas Intermediate – benchmark US crude oil;
weights those which are relatively cheap. for NYMEX futures, delivered Cushing, Oklahoma.
Distillate: Class of refined oil products including heating oil
(aka gasoil) and diesel, and usually jet fuel and burning
kerosene.
Contacts
Name Title Telephone Email Location
Head of Commodity Sales,
Richard Jefferson Europe, Asia 44 20 7547-7689 richard.jefferson@db.com London
Global Head of Commodities
Louise Kitchen Structuring & Sales 44 20 7547-5395 louise.kitchen@db.com London
Page 100
Commodities Correlation Matrix
11 January 2008
Commodities Outlook
This Pearson moment correlation matrix is calculated from the daily returns of the 60 most recent business days’ data. For most, the first nearby futures contract is used. A roll adjustment is made by back-creating
the price series according to the daily return of the prompt contract on the roll date. This avoids severe consequences for those commodities with significant term structure, where rolls introduce spurious jumps,
which lower correlations. The shading scheme is as follows: numbers in interval [-0.4, 0.4] are unshaded; numbers in [-0.85, -0.4] and [0.4,0.85] have a light grey background; the highly correlated pairs (with a
magnitude >=0.85) are shown with the darker grey.
Appendix 1
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