OIL AND GAS
Moody's: A few 'ifs' for Iran's budget plans
by Daniel J. Graeber
New York (UPI) Dec 8, 2016


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Iran's budget plans for the post-sanctions era are supportive of growth, but a Trump administration and oil prices could present obstacles, Moody's said.

Iran received a de facto economic stimulus in January when the United Nations verified compliance with a multilateral nuclear agreement brokered in 2015. Sanctions imposed by the European Union, and some in the United States, have eased as a result and the government started reporting economic growth in early 2016.

Though sanctions relief means more Iranian oil on the market, the Iranian government has tried to make its economy less dependent on oil for revenue. Moody's Investor's Service found the Iranian economy is more diverse than other oil exporters in the region.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last week submitted a budget of around $338 billion for next year, which is based in part on a 50 percent increase in oil revenue with oil priced at around $50 per barrel. Brent crude oil was trading early Thursday at around $53.40 per barrel.

Iran under the terms of a production agreement from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries can keep working to regain its market share, while other producers are expected to make cuts. Rouhani said that means his country can sell as much oil as it deems fit.

In its latest report, Moody's finds Iran faces some economic risks that depend in part on sanctions. Washington recently extended a sanctions program and, if President-elect Donald Trump backs out of the U.N.-backed nuclear deal, it could make some of those sanctions tougher.

"Many of the government's key budget assumptions are reliant on the agreement staying in force, including, for example, Iran's ability to sell 2.42 million barrels of oil per day as well as its ability to access the international payments system to receive payments for those exports," the emailed report read.

The International Monetary Fund expects Iran will continue to run a small deficit through the beginning of the next decade. Non-oil revenue, meanwhile, accounts for about 13 percent of the total planned revenue stream and Moody's says Iran's budget estimate of $50 per barrel for oil overshoots its forecast for 2017 by $5 per barrel.

"Iran's budgets always target a balance, but revenues have fallen short of expectations since 2012 because of international sanctions and, more recently, low oil prices," Moody's said.


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

.


Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
OIL AND GAS
Venezuela says Russia played key role with OPEC
Caracas, Venezuela (UPI) Dec 7, 2016
Russia was pivotal in the decision last week by members of OPEC to agree to a production ceiling starting in January, Venezuela's oil minister said. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with his Venezuelan counterpart to discuss the terms of a production agreement reached last week in Vienna. Member states meet again Dec. 10 to discuss the terms of the deal. Venezuela ... read more


OIL AND GAS
Raytheon to provide Patriot missile capability for undisclosed country

Saudis intercept missile fired from Yemen

US general says missile system in S. Korea in 8-10 months

Yemen rebel missile shot down near Mecca: coalition

OIL AND GAS
U.S. approves possible sale of JASSM-ER missiles to Poland

Raytheon to provide missile warning systems for Taiwan

Italian navy completes first launch of Aster 30 missile

Japan protests Russia missile deployment on disputed islands

OIL AND GAS
Britain signs off on General Atomics' Protector program

NTU and Stratasys 3iD print operational ULTEM drone with embedded electronics

'Dronejacking' may be the next big cyber threat

FLIR Systems buys Prox Dynamics for $134 million

OIL AND GAS
Japan to Launch First Military Communications Satellite on January 24

Intelsat General to provide satellite services to RiteNet for US Army network

NSA gives Type1 certification to Harris radio

Upgraded telecommunications network for Marines

OIL AND GAS
U.K. Defense Ministry to spend $1.26 billion on modernizing test sites

India signs $750m deal for BAE howitzers

Lithuania buys German M577 armored vehicles

Honeywell to provide navigation system for U.K. AJAX vehicles

OIL AND GAS
Europe, Russia arms groups gain market share in 2015: study

China complains to Singapore over armoured vehicles

Singapore armoured vehicles seized by Hong Kong customs

Raytheon announces expansion

OIL AND GAS
Trump picks Twitter fight with China

Still seeking top diplomat, Trump taunts China

Why the fuss? Trump, the US, Taiwan and China -- a guide

Six key issues facing Trump's Pentagon pick

OIL AND GAS
ANU demonstrates 'ghost imaging' with atoms

Supersonic spray yields new nanomaterial for bendable, wearable electronics

Researchers use acoustic waves to move fluids at the nanoscale

Researchers use graphene templates to make new metal-oxide nanostructures