The Incoming Run In Commodities
We are entering a great period for those who invest in commodities. This sector is going to see a multi-year run that will push the prices higher, and likely to a large degree.
What did you read that correctly? Did I say we are going to have bouts of inflation?
Yes I did.
Here is the problem that most people have. When looking at things with markets, we need to look at time period and causes. They often tell a much different story than the present narrative.
In the medium-term, the next few years, we are likely to see inflation. And, no this is not due to the money printing the Fed is doing. That is just trying to make up for the loss that took place due to the lockdowns and collapsing of the global economy. The money printed pales in comparison to the wealth destroyed.
What is causing this is shortages. We are back to looking at the basic supply-demand equation. Just like all the talk was the glut in oil, which sent prices collapsing, that deflationary was going to turn once the supply issue was resolved.
Here is a table of the rig count in the United States. The last two columns deal with the last 12 months. As we can see, the rig count is down 42%.
This too should come as no surprise. More than half of 2020 saw the oil companies plugging ever hole they could. The rig count dropped by near half. That means we are seeing a lot less crude coming out of the ground. Even though demand is still down from where it was, the supply is down more. This evens out the supply-demand equation, pushing prices higher as we all see.
Let us look at the one year chart in crude from Marketwatch.
Notice how it went from $28 a barrel right around the time the pandemic was starting to hit to the present price of $65. This is sending gas prices higher.
Of course, we were told this wasn't support to happen. The end of oil was near with the introduction of EVs. Utility plants were switching to green energy, making oil obsolete. In fact funds were not investing in the fossil fuel based energy sector.
This was the narrative anyway.
Of course, it we look at the XLE, we see a different story.
It seems there was plenty of money flowing into this sector as evidenced by the doubling of price since the lows in April.
Then there is food.
We know there was a lot of turmoil caused by the lockdowns. One of them was the fact that workers could not get out to get the crops in time. Many farmers had to plow over crops as they went bad. At the same time, meat packing houses were shut down, meaning ranchers could not get their herds to market.
All this is starting a food crisis. It is something that is being overlooked in the mainstream media yet the markets are well aware of it. Let us look at the Food and Beverage ETF.
Similar situation to oil.
When the supply is decreased, this tends to send prices higher.
Did you hear about the semiconductor shortage? This is affecting everything from computers to cars to appliances.
Once again, we see a similar story.
Supply chains across the globe were completely disrupted during the pandemic. This means that it is going to take a number of year to correct. The markets are already telling us these sectors are about to soar. Of course, with a contracting global economy, this tells us the demand side is not expanding.
Just like the oil glut took about 3 years to reverse, we will see a similar situation again. As we get closer to the flipping, we will experience a multi-year run where there is simply not enough oil. The same will hold true with food since growing seasons cannot be sped up. This will spread to the rest of the commodity segments, providing a nice multi-year bull run.
Of course, 3 years is a long time in a technological era and companies are not just going to sit back and do nothing. Many will innovate and adapt, meaning the implementation of technology to counterbalance an increase in prices.
Thus, right about the time it will peak, the technological impact could hit around the middle of the decade, sending prices plummeting again.
Watching the supply-demand equation can be very informative. With commodities, it tells a great deal of the story.
Those who are positioned in them will likely do very well over the next few years.
Posted Using LeoFinance Beta
