The OPEC+ group of oil producers fully complied with supply cuts in November, two sources from the alliance told Reuters ahead of the group's Jan. 4 meeting to discuss whether to boost production further from February.
One of the sources said compliance from members in OPEC reached 104% while compliance was at 95% for their allies, including Russia, with overall compliance at 101%. Russia last week said it was keen for OPEC+ to raise output by 500,000 bbl/d from February despite concerns among some members that the move would be premature in the face of the latest surge in coronavirus infections.
"Is the oil demand forecast for the first quarter of 2021 better than that forecast in early December? I don't believe so, given the lockdown in many countries in Europe until the end of January," one of the OPEC+ sources said.
Several European countries including Britain, Germany and France have enforced movement restrictions to contain new infection waves.
In early December, OPEC+ agreed to ease its record cuts from 7.7 million bbl/d to 7.2 million bbl/d after backing down from earlier plans for a 2 million bbl/d output boost.
Under the deal, further monthly adjustments will not exceed 500,000 bbl/d.
"At the end of the day there is not much of a difference in the balance between increasing by 500,000 bbl/d in February or not. The big issue was not to increase by 2 million bbl/d in January," the second source said.
Recommended Reading
Kissler: OPEC+ Likely to Buoy Crude Prices—At Least Somewhat
2024-03-18 - By keeping its voluntary production cuts, OPEC+ is sending a clear signal that oil prices need to be sustainable for both producers and consumers.
Canadian Natural Resources Boosting Production in Oil Sands
2024-03-04 - Canadian Natural Resources will increase its quarterly dividend following record production volumes in the quarter.
NGL Growth Leads Enterprise Product Partners to Strong Fourth Quarter
2024-02-02 - Enterprise Product Partners executives are still waiting to receive final federal approval to go ahead with the company’s Sea Port Terminal Project.
Buffett: ‘No Interest’ in Occidental Takeover, Praises 'Hallelujah!' Shale
2024-02-27 - Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett added that the U.S. electric power situation is “ominous.”
After Megamerger, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Rail Ends 2023 on High
2024-02-02 - After the historic merger of two railways in April, revenues reached CA$3.8B for fourth-quarter 2023.