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Commodities

Pandemic Recovery Fostering Longest Commodities Boom

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Crude Oil: This summer may continue to see strong stock draws, most visible in the US, but also in observable inventories worldwide, as seasonal and pent-up demand outperforms, while OPEC+ maintains a gradual return of oil to market, even as Iran sanctions relief remains slower to come. US supply is moving back to growth mode, but can remain lower, until more clearly moving higher before end-2021. Downside risks remain from COVID-19 variants and a faster return of supply from OPEC+ or Iran, but this is not expected to slow down inventory draws much. Brent and WTI could hit US$85 in 2H’21.

 

Gold: Citi analysts are neutral gold in the near term and expect prices to trade at the higher end of a US$1,675-1,825/oz baseline range in July before gradually trending lower into September and also by year-end, to average US$1,750/oz in 3Q and US$1,675/oz in 4Q. Citi analysts are bearish, albeit with lower than normal conviction, for 2022.

 

 

Bulks and metals: Citi analysts see copper retracing its 2021 peak during the 2H’21, reaching US$11,000/t, on an end to destocking across the supply chain as well as higher demand from the automotive sector as the chip shortage eases. The preference shift towards metals-intensive activity in North America (and likely Europe) shows no signs of rolling over, given the NAHB home remodeling index rising q/q to reach all-time highs in 2Q’21, despite the US service sector reopening last February.

 

Citi analysts are short term bullish nickel and forecast prices to reach US$20.5k/t in the next 0-3 months. Multiple indicators are signaling that physical tightness is brewing in the nickel market. At the root is surging demand from stainless steel which looks set to get seasonally stronger in 3Q’21, and the EV industry is restocking too. Citi analysts expect this may drive nickel prices up amidst our broader bullish commodities view for 3Q’21. However, Citi analysts remain directionally bearish on a 2022 view owing to strong supply growth.

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