Dropping Dollar Prompts Basis Change

OPEC members, Iran and Venezuela, have recently called for changing the currency basis for crude oil from US dollars to Euros. What’s behind this move?

The following graph shows the FOB prices of OPEC crude oil in $/B and Euros/B.

Oil Imports and High Prices Contribute to Trade Deficit

According to The Dallas Morning News of November 14, 2007, U.S. crude oil imports in 2006 were $225.2 billion. These imports accounted for 27.6% of the 2006 trade deficit of $817 billion. The U.S. had trade deficits with the OPEC countries led by Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Venezuela. The U.S. had a $103.8 billion deficit with Saudi Arabia.