OPEC+ cartel agrees to hike oil production by 188,000 barrels per day
New Delhi, Aug 2
The OPEC+ on Sunday approved another increase in its crude production quota by around 188,000 barrels per day from September, which restores the earlier production cuts that were rolled out by the oil cartel in 2023.
The decision to increase production was taken by the seven key OPEC+ producers, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman.
However, the decision may not have an immediate impact on global oil supplies as the Middle East conflict continues to disrupt oil and gas exports as the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas exports transit, remains choked. Consequently, higher production quotas do not automatically translate into more oil reaching global buyers.
Higher official quotas also do not necessarily mean that producers can actually deliver the additional crude. Russia is facing pressure on its oil industry after repeated Ukrainian drone attacks striking deep into Russian territory to hit energy infrastructure. The country's production is currently around 9 million barrels per day, below its OPEC+ target of about 9.8 million barrels per day.
The UAE's exit from the OPEC+ group in May has added another layer of uncertainty. Its departure followed years of frustration over production cuts and has raised questions about how much longer OPEC+ members will remain willing to accept coordinated limits.
Analysts expect the group to take a more cautious approach after the September increase.
Rystad Energy expects OPEC+ to hold production levels steady during the fourth quarter before discussions begin around quotas for 2027. That could give producers time to assess the impact of restored exports, global demand, and oil prices before deciding whether to release more crude.
The group has already raised production targets several times since 2025 after years of restricting supply. Between late 2022 and 2023, OPEC+ introduced three rounds of cuts that reduced its combined output by nearly 6 million barrels per day.
The strategy later shifted towards gradually bringing those barrels back to the market.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump says he has cancelled US strikes against Iran, provided a deal is struck "rapidly" with the country.
The US President said on Truth Social that he had been asked by Iran and other countries in the Middle East to hold off on any attack as the perimeters of a deal had been agreed.
Trump's comments came amid reports that the US and Israel may have plans to intensify attacks against Iran.
However, Iran's Mehr news agency denied that Tehran had asked the US to hold off on further military action, saying Trump's claims were "nothing but a new lie".
— IANS
Reader Comments
Our government should seriously focus on boosting renewable energy instead of being at the mercy of these oil cartels. Every time they sneeze, our economy catches a cold. We have such great solar potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat - let's use it wisely. 🌞
As someone who works in the energy sector here in India, I see this as a positive step but quite insufficient. The real issue is the geopolitical instability - until the Middle East situation stabilizes, no amount of quota increases will help. Trump's back-and-forth on Iran isn't doing anyone any favors either.
You know what's frustrating? The UAE leaving OPEC+ while we're struggling with fuel prices. It seems like these oil-producing nations are playing a long game and India, as a major importer, always ends up paying the price. We need to strengthen our strategic oil reserves immediately.
Wait, so the cartel is increasing production but might not actually be able to deliver? That's just adding insult to injury for countries like India that are already dealing with high inflation. #JustOPECThings 😂
One thing I don't understand - why is India not using its diplomatic clout to secure better deals? We import the majority of our oil needs, yet we're always reacting instead of being proactive. Maybe its time to seriously push for the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor and other alternative routes.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.