2015-09-29middleeasteye.net

From 2005 to 2015, Saudi net exports have experienced an annual decline rate of 1.4 percent, within the range predicted by Brown and Foucher. A report by Citigroup recently predicted that net exports would plummet to zero in the next 15 years... This means that Saudi state revenues, 80 percent of which come from oil sales, are heading downwards, terminally.

...

Saudi Arabia's considerable reserves are being depleted at unprecedented levels, dropping from their August 2014 peak of $737 billion to $672bn in May -- falling by about $12bn a month.

At this rate, by late 2018, the kingdom's reserves could deplete as low as $200bn, an eventuality that would likely be anticipated by markets much earlier, triggering capital flight.To make up for this prospect, King Salman's approach has been to accelerate borrowing. What happens when over the next few years reserves deplete, debt increases, while oil revenues remain strained?



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