Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Javier Blas

@javierblas.bsky.social

4.3K followers 3 following 47 posts

Energy and commodities columnist at Bloomberg. Co-author of the 'The World for Sale' http://amzn.to/3t6dVJV Any views expressed are my own. [email protected]

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Aug 27

COLUMN: Rice prices are heading to ~18-year low.

"In a world worried about looming food shortages triggered by the climate crisis, the collapse in rice prices is evidence that interventions by governments and modern agricultural methods may save the day"

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Rice Can Feed the World — Even With Fewer Farmers

The world’s most important crop for food security is reaching its lowest price in 18 years.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Jun 21

WEEKEND LONG-READ: War in the age of American oil imperialism.

The shale revolution has given the White House a freer hand in the Middle East — but that advantage isn’t limitless.

@opinion.bloomberg.com #OOTT #IranIsraelConflict www.bloomberg.com/opinion/feat...

US Enjoys a Rare Moment of Oil Supremacy in Iran

The shale revolution has given it a freer hand in the Middle East — but that advantage is vulnerable.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Jun 2

COLUMN: Largely unnoticed, the Chinese coal-to-chemicals industry has reached gargantuan proportions.

If it was a country, it would rank as the world's 3rd largest coal consumer. That as big implications for climate and energy policy.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

China’s Coal Industry Has a Big, Dirty Secret

Largely unnoticed, an obscure corner of the trade has reached gargantuan proportions.

www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Javier Blas

Bloomberg Opinion @opinion.bloomberg.com · May 16

Coconut oil just hit a record high, and your ice cream budget might take the hit.

@javierblas.bsky.social explains why fuel demand in Asia is to blame 🎥

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · May 16

COLUMN: Ice cream inflation is arriving just ahead of the summer. 🍦 🌞 📈

“It's perhaps one of the most bizarre examples of how commodity policy and markets ricochet: The need for cheap fuel in Asia means more expensive ice cream in the West”

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Ice Cream Inflation Arrives Just in Time for Summer

Coconut oil, a key ingredient in our favorite sweet treat, is becoming very expensive.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · May 13

COLUMN: At current prices, US shale oil output has probably peaked.

Just don’t expect a rapid decline like the downturns of 2015 and 2020; the most likely trajectory is an undulating plateau.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

US Oil Output Has Peaked. But Don’t Expect a Rapid Decline.

Nothing suggests that a repetition of 2020’s plunge is imminent.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · May 8

COLUMN: The four most dangerous words in finance are “this time is different.” History suggests that when Saudi Arabia launches a price war against one of its OPEC+ allies, it ultimately succeeds — but this time really will be different.

@opinion.bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Saudi Arabia Goes Whistling Past the Kazakh Oil Graveyard

The kingdom’s attempts to enforce quota discipline on the OPEC+ cartel are doomed to fail.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 24

COLUMN: It's time to discuss how electrifying everything comes with plenty of risks of its own.

My take on today’s IEA/UK conference on “The future of energy security”, including tidbits from the conference confidential background paper.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

It’s Electricity Realism, Not Climate Denialism

Electrifying everything comes with plenty of risks of its own.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 22

COLUMN: How do you say "drill, baby, drill" in Mandarin?

Call it “zuan ba, bao bei, zuan ba."

China may not have a drilling slogan, but it just lifted oil production to an all-time high, surpassing a peak set 10 years ago.

My @opinion.bloomberg.com column: www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 15

COLUNM: COLUMN: Has oil reached a buy-first-and-ask-questions-later moment? Not even close.

Just because prices have fallen to a 4-year low doesn’t mean oil is a bargain. It does mean that it’s cheap. But what’s cheap could become cheaper.

@opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Oil Is Cheap But It Isn’t (Yet) a Bargain

For the past 18 months and up to the current selloff, I have been indubitably bearish. But the game is starting to change.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 11

COLUMN: The US oil industry has done more to reduce its country’s trade deficit than any other.

Now, President Donald Trump, in theory the champion of “drill, baby, drill,” risks killing it with his obsession with $50-a-barrel oil.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

$50-a-Barrel Oil Is a Problem for US Trade Deficit

Shale producers reversed the US oil deficit. Now they face ruin at $50-a-barrel.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 8

COLUMN: The economy is slowing down - and Saudi Arabia is hiking oil output to teach a lesson to OPEC cheaters.

Cynical oil investors should be forgiven for having a case of déjà vu: it happened too in 1997, and it ended badly for prices.

@opinion.bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

‘Ghost of Jakarta’ Haunts a Fragile Oil Market

Crude prices have yet to reach bottom after the Saudis pushed for production increase.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Apr 2

COLUMN: The race to rebuild European natural gas storage has started -- but don't expect anyone rushing.

As it currently stands, the invisible hand of the market doesn't help, and utilities and traders will take a wait-and-see approach.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Is an Upside-Down Gas Market Europe's New Normal?

High prices have discouraged stocking up to prepare for next winter.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 26

COLUMN: In 1970, NASA described the Apollo 13 mission as "successful failure." The same can be said about oil giant Shell's strategy.

Shell has done what it promised — a success. But hasn't closed the valuation gap with US rivals — a failure

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Shell’s Revamped Strategy Is a ‘Successful Failure’

The London-listed oil giant hasn’t succeeded in closing a valuation gap to its US peers. Maybe a change of domicile is needed.

www.bloomberg.com

Reposted by Javier Blas

Bloomberg Opinion @opinion.bloomberg.com · Mar 21

Heathrow airport's shutdown suggests not paying for adequate back-up systems is a false economy, writes @javierblas.bsky.social ⬇️

Heathrow Shutdown Exposes Dangers of a Single Point of Failure

The closure of Europe’s busiest airport after a fire suggests not paying for adequate back-up systems is a false economy.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 21

Obviously not adequate ones — or else, the airport would have continue operating!!!

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 20

COLUMN: There's a lot more oil than crude in today's petroleum market.

In trying to gauge oil prices, it helps to count the barrels — all of them. And that includes natural gas liquids and condensates. And to know the OPEC+ loopholes.

@opinion.bloomberg.com #OOTT

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Ignore the Boom in Oil That Isn’t Oil at Your Peril

Assessing the market requires more than just counting barrels of crude.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 17

COLUMN: Despite a ~$30-a-barrel sell-off over the last 18 months, I'm still (somewhat) bearish.

The oil market and the industry face significant headwinds - above all: OPEC+ is boosting output and Trump wants much lower prices.

@opinion.bloomberg.com #OOTT

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

The Oil Industry Is Over a Half-Empty Barrel

Delight over Trump’s election has passed for executives worried about falling prices.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 12

COLUMN: President Donald Trump won’t make American farming great again.

Quite the opposite: Trump is on a trade wars path that will inflict long lasting damage to rural America.

@opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Trade Wars Won’t Make American Farming Great Again

The US trade war will hurt food exports and increase the agricultural trade deficit.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 6

Oil is trading today at the same level as 20 years ago.

Even without adjusting by inflation, in mere nominal terms, a barrel of Brent crude cost today as it did in mid-2005. Add on top cumulative inflation, and this is a huge loss of purchasing power for OPEC+

@opinion.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Mar 4

COLUMN: After the OPEC+ output hike, the chatter about an “oil grand bargain” isn’t geopolitical fantasy.

The US, Russia and Saudi Arabia may work alongside in the oil market, if not explicitly then tacitly. But can they agree on prices?

@opinion.bloomberg.com

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

The ‘Oil Grand Bargain’ Isn’t Mere Fantasy

Thinking the unthinkable is useful, especially when the global oil market’s three kings are involved.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Feb 26

VIDEO COLUMN: Fantasy minerals.

Many people — not least of all, US President Donald Trump — seem convinced Ukraine has a lot of rare earths minerals. It’s utter nonsense.

@opinion.bloomberg.com #Ukraine

www.instagram.com/reel/DGh4kw5...

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Feb 24

COLUMN: The return of Russian commodities? With the exception of natural gas, they never really left.

Still, the oil and commodities sanctions regime against Russia is already crumbling, in reality if not in law yet.

#Ukraine #Russia @opinion.bloomberg.com www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

The Return of Russian Commodities? They Never Really Left

Only natural gas could see a big drop in prices once trade normalizes.

www.bloomberg.com

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Feb 19

Please, read my column and you will see I call that “NATO” paper BS. Significant and very basic errors. Including not knowing what a rare earths are and aren’t

Javier Blas @javierblas.bsky.social · Feb 19

COLUMN: What Ukraine has is scorched earth; what it doesn’t have is rare earths.

Surprisingly, many people — not least, US President Trump — seem convinced the country has a rich mineral endowment. It’s a folly.

[FREE TO READ]

#Ukraine @opinion.bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Rare Earths in Ukraine? No, Only Scorched Earth.

President Trump’s fixation on extracting elements from the war-torn nation is an illusion.

www.bloomberg.com