Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink

By Richard Woolnough
Just as Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s thirsty mariner lamented that he had nothing to drink despite being surrounded by water (it was sea water), Iranians in Tehran are rioting over a shortage of gasoline. Iran is sitting on the second largest conventional crude oil reserves in the world, second only to Saudi Arabia, and yet the government has suddenly imposed gasoline rationing. Drivers are being allowed only 100 litres a month, which is not much considering that Tehran is a huge city of 14 million people and public transport is very underdeveloped.

Iran’s gasoline crisis stems from a combination of a lack of supply (refinery capacity is insufficient) and strong demand (a direct result of some extremely generous fuel subsidies – gasoline is sold at around one fifth of its real cost). Rationing fuel is only likely to increase inflationary pressure in Iran, and any additional UN sanctions will serve to make matters worse.

 

The value of investments will fluctuate, which will cause prices to fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount you invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.

Richard Woolnough

Job Title: Fund Manager

Specialist Subjects: Government and corporate bonds

Likes: Running, cycling

Heroes: Mohammed Ali, Winston Churchill

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