Oil exporter talks hit difficulties in Doha

A meeting of leading oil exporting countries in Qatar, called to address the low level of prices, has run into difficulties.

Reports from Qatar's capital Doha, say the problem is tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

The agenda for the meeting is whether to freeze production levels.

Iran has consistently refused to take such steps but Saudi officials have at times appeared willing to take such action only if Iran were to as well.

The meeting is a response to the fall in prices which began in June 2014. The price is now less than half what it was then, though in the last few weeks it has risen from its lowest levels.

Most members of the exporters' group Opec, together with some other oil producers, are meeting in Doha to discuss freezing output.

No cuts in other words, just a commitment to no more increases.

But even that possibility has given some support in recent weeks to the price of oil. The low it reached earlier this year was about $27 a barrel for Brent crude oil, one of the leading international market prices.

This week it has been very close to $45. That is to a large extent due to traders considering the possibility that some oil producers are close to taking some sort of action to push prices higher.

It's worth emphasising that even at current levels the price of oil is far below where it was as recently as June 2014 - when it reached $115.

The fall has hurt many oil producing countries. Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund said it had damaged financial stability and the government finances in many of them.

The meeting is not formally an Opec event, though most of the group's members are being represented. There will also be some non-members, notably Russia.

One important Opec member not there is Iran.

As the country emerges from western sanctions, the Iranian government wants to regain the share of the market that it lost as a result of those restrictions on its international sales.

Iranian officials have repeatedly made it clear they have no intention of participating in a production freeze, though they appear happy to support others doing it. Iran has not sent a delegation to the Doha meeting.

This reluctance on Iran's part has led to friction with Saudi Arabia, the word's biggest oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince has said that a freeze could only happen if Iran takes part. But there are doubts about whether this really is the Kingdom's last word.

The decision to hold this meeting, with a rather unusual group of attendees, reflects the oil exporters' persistent concerns about the level of prices and a feeling that any action needs to involve more than just the members of Opec.

Two of the world's leading producers are not going to be there: the US and China.

Both countries have large oil production industries, but they use nearly all of it themselves, and have to import extra to meet their own needs. Their economies overall tend to benefit from cheaper oil so they don't have a shared interest with those who will be turning up in Doha.

Still, there is more than enough oil production that will be represented there to make a substantial difference to the global market if the participants chose to take strong action.

What many oil analysts say, however, is that they aren't talking about action that is going to achieve much. In the past, Opec has often managed to agree and deliver cuts in production. This time all that's on the table is a potential agreement to refrain from further increases.

No 'game changer'

Saudi concerns are the key reason why countries outside Opec are involved. Whenever Opec has cut production in the past, Saudi Arabia has tended to make the biggest contribution. This time, they were reluctant to take the loss of market share that would involve.

But it's less of a sacrifice if some other countries take part. The US never would, so Russia is the biggest producer that could be involved.

So if they can agree a freeze, would it make much difference? London consultancy Capital Economics said in a note to clients: "Freezing output at current high levels would simply maintain the excess supply that is now in place and as such would not be a game changer."

Perhaps what would make more difference is the much anticipated decline in American shale oil production which appears to be finally gathering pace, according to the International Energy Agency, an official organisation which monitors the energy situation for its member countries.

In fact one reason for Saudi Arabia's reluctance to take action sooner is widely thought to have been a desire to keep the pressure on its competitors in the US shale business.

Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman

It's worth remembering that the rise of shale oil in the US has transformed the global market. The increased US supply is one of the key factors that have been bearing down on international oil prices, along with weakness of demand which in turn reflects China's economic slowdown and the failure of the global economy to generate robust growth.

Having said all that, this meeting might turn out to have some symbolic significance. Opec has been very slow to respond to what is a serious problem for its members.

In previous episodes of falling prices, Opec has tended to act more quickly by cutting production, not just restraining further increases.

Not this time. Most recently when the group met in December last year, their final statement surprised many observers when it did not even mention a production ceiling, something they nearly always set out at their regular meetings.

Still the meeting in Qatar could at the very least have some symbolic significance.

Analysts at Barclays Research said ahead of the Doha event: "Opec's December meeting was a failure, but Doha gives the organisation the opportunity to reassert its relevance."

The stakes are high. Abhishek Deshpande, chief oil analyst at Natixis, described this as "the mother of all Opec meetings" which shows the nervousness among oil producers.