Algeria Expects Foreign Reserves to Decrease to $76bn in 2020

A general view of the upper parliament chamber is pictured in Algiers, Algeria. (Reuters)
A general view of the upper parliament chamber is pictured in Algiers, Algeria. (Reuters)
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Algeria Expects Foreign Reserves to Decrease to $76bn in 2020

A general view of the upper parliament chamber is pictured in Algiers, Algeria. (Reuters)
A general view of the upper parliament chamber is pictured in Algiers, Algeria. (Reuters)

Algerian Finance Minister Abderrahmane Raouia expected foreign reserves in his country to decrease to $76.2 billion by the end of 2020.

Over the past few years and wit the drop in oil prices, financial pressure increased on Algeria and its major dependency on oil revenues.

Oil and gas revenues comprise about 60 percent of Algeria's budget and 95 percent of total exports.

The status of international energy markets reflected on the country's foreign reserves, which fell from $192 billion in 2014 to $108 billion in mid 2017.

During his presentation of the 2018 Algerian budget before the People's National Assembly, Raouia stated that Algeria's foreign reserves reached $102.4 billion at the end of September, expecting it to decrease to $85.2 billion at the end of 2018.

The minister also stated that the reserves will drop to $79.7 billion at the end of 2019.

Algerian daily Akhbar el-Youm reported that the 2018 budget includes procedures to increase oil prices and impose the new wealth tax.

The tax applies to people who own a wealth exceeding 50 million Algerian dinar, according to the newspaper.

In October, the parliament approved amendments to the Money and Credit Law to allow the central bank for the first time to lend directly to the public treasury to finance budget deficits and internal public debt and provide resources for the coming five years.

Algeria’s economy should grow by 4 percent in 2018, up from the 2.2 percent forecast for this year, as oil prices recover, the government said in a document according to Reuters.

The government anticipates inflation reaching 5.5 percent next year, unchanged from its projection for 2017, according to the document, which is part of the draft budget for 2018.



China's Iran Oil Imports Surge in June on Rising Shipments, Teapot Demand

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS
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China's Iran Oil Imports Surge in June on Rising Shipments, Teapot Demand

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a crude oil tanker at an oil terminal off Waidiao island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, China January 4, 2023. China Daily via REUTERS

China's Iranian oil imports surged in June as shipments accelerated before the recent conflict in the region and demand from independent refineries improved, analysts said.

The world's top oil importer and biggest buyer of Iranian crude brought in more than 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) from June 1-20, according to ship-tracker Vortexa, a record high based on the firm's data.

Kpler's data put the month-to-date average of China's Iranian oil and condensate imports at 1.46 million bpd as of June 27, up from one million bpd in May.

The rising imports are fueled in part by the accelerated discharge of high volumes of Iranian oil on the water after export loadings from Iran reached a multi-year high of 1.83 million bpd in May, Kpler data showed.

It typically takes at least one month for Iranian oil to reach Chinese ports, Reuters reported.

Robust loadings in May and early June mean China's Iran imports are poised to remain elevated, Kpler and Vortexa analysts said.

Independent Chinese "teapot" refineries, the main buyers of Iranian oil, also showed strong demand for the discount barrels as their stockpiles depleted, said Xu Muyu, Kpler's senior analyst.

A possible relaxing of US President Donald Trump's policy on Iranian oil sanctions could further bolster Chinese buying, she added.

Trump said on Wednesday that Washington has not given up its maximum pressure campaign on Iran - including restrictions on Iranian oil sales - but signaled a potential easing in enforcement to help the country rebuild.

For this week, Iranian Light crude oil was being traded at around $2 a barrel below ICE Brent for end-July to early-August deliveries, two traders familiar with the matter said, compared to discounts of $3.30-$3.50 a barrel previously for July deliveries.

Narrower discounts were spurred by worries that oil flows could be disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway between Iran and Oman, traders said.

Market fears for a closure of the chokepoint had escalated after last weekend's US attack on Iranian nuclear sites but eased after Iran and Israel on Tuesday signaled a ceasefire.

Tighter discounts for Iranian oil come amid a retreat in futures prices. ICE Brent crude futures hovered at $68 per barrel on Friday, their level before the Israel-Iran conflict began and down 19% from Monday's five-month peak.