OPEC Revenues Tumble Below $1 Trillion in 2014

Energy

Published: June 17, 2015 1:30 pm

Last Updated: April 28, 2020 3:14 am

The value of the oil exported by the 12 member nations of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell from $1.112 trillion in 2013 to $993.3 billion last year. Last year was the first since 2010 when the cartel’s oil revenues fell below $1 trillion. OPEC countries relied on oil exports for 70% of total exports in 2013, compared with just 67% in 2014.

The current account balance of the dozen OPEC countries fell from $417.7 billion in 2013 to $273.6 billion in 2014, a decline of 35%, as the member nations were forced to import more even as they exported less. The data come from the OPEC 2014 Annual Report released Wednesday.

Much of the report reinforces data presented in the cartel’s monthly oil market reports, and even the revelation about the cartel’s finances is not a big surprise. The Financial Times reported in early May that the Saudis had to draw some $36 billion from the country’s sovereign wealth fund to cover expenses for the months of March and April.

The cartel reported that its production fell by 157,000 barrels a day from 2013 to 30.075 million barrels a day. The data, as is usual with OPEC, is based on an “assessment of selected secondary sources.”

ALSO READ: Global Energy-Related Carbon Emissions Could Peak in 2020

Total global demand for oil rose by a million barrels a day year-over-year to 91.3 million barrels a day, while total global supply rose to 92.4 million barrels a day. That 1.3 million barrel daily surplus is the target of OPEC’s announced policy of letting the market find its own price without the cartel cutting its own production. At the end of 2014, the OPEC reference basket of 12 crudes had dropped 9% year-over-year from $105.87 to $96.29 in 2014.

In the fourth quarter last year, the OPEC reference basket averaged $73.69 a barrel. In the cartel’s June Oil Market Report, the reference basket averaged $62.16 a barrel, a new high for the year to date.

As low as OPEC revenues were in 2014, 2015 is shaping up to be an even more disappointing year.

The Average American Has No Idea How Much Money You Can Make Today ^(Sponsor)

The last few years made people forget how much banks and CD’s can pay. Meanwhile, interest rates have spiked and many can afford to pay you much more, but most are keeping yields low and hoping you won’t notice.

But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying almost 10x the national average! That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe and earn more at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 3.80% with a Checking & Savings Account today Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes to open an account to make your money work for you.

Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other benefits as well. You can earn up to 4.00% with a Checking & Savings Account from Sofi. Sign up and get up to $300 with direct deposit. No account fees. FDIC Insured.

¹https://www.fdic.gov/national-rates-and-rate-caps