The impact of Russia on producer-consumer links

This speculative paper discusses the impact of the crisis in Russia on the trade links between Asia and the Gulf. Relative to the volatile Russian economy, the economies of the Gulf oil-producing states are very stable. It was suggested that a quantum leap in the oil market is imminent: the evidence for this is propounded and it is largely based on the present global surplus of oil and the mergers which are producing 'super major' companies. The Gulf is expected to continue to be a major force in the production of petroleum