| Summary: | Most commodity price indexes rebounded in February-March from their January lows on improved market sentiment
and a weakening dollar. Still, average prices for the first quarter fell compared to the last quarter of 2015, with energy
prices down 21 percent and non-energy prices lower by 2 percent. Given the recent rebound in oil prices and expected
supply tightening in the second half of the year, the crude oil price forecast for 2016 has been raised to $41 per barrel
(bbl), up from $37/bbl in the January assessment (and represents a drop of 19 percent from 2015.) Metals prices are
projected to decline 8 percent, a slightly smaller drop than anticipated in January due to supply reductions. Agricultural
prices have been revised marginally lower on signs of adequate harvests in major producers, and are expected to
register a decline of 4 percent from last year. Looking to 2017, a modest price recovery is projected for most commodities
as demand strengthens. Crude oil is projected to rise to $50/bbl as the market moves into balance. This issue of the
Commodity Markets Outlook examines the implications of resource development in an era of lower commodity prices
and concludes that ambitious improvements in governance and sounder macroeconomic policies are required to mitigate
delays and risks.
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