Saudi Arabia, Russia to continue voluntary oil cuts until end of year

Saudi Arabia and Russia on Wednesday said they were continuing voluntary oil cuts to year end as tightening supply and rising demand support oil prices.

The Saudi and Russian statements come hours before a ministerial monitoring panel of the OPEC+ group of leading oil producers convenes online later on Wednesday.

The panel, called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, can call for a full OPEC+ meeting if warranted but sources have told Reuters it is unlikely to tweak current oil output policy.

Oil prices continued a downward trend directly following the news with Brent futures falling $1 to $89.92 a barrel but they were trading at $90.40 a barrel by 0854 GMT.

OPEC+, which comprises the countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and leading allies including Russia, has been cutting output since last year in what it says is preemptive action to maintain market stability.

The U.S. and Western allies have argued that the world needs lower prices to support economic growth and the global economy.

"Mindful of sustained efforts to convince the Saudis and other oil-wealthy GCC states to boost production, US policymakers believe that Riyadh is defying Washington while pleasing the Kremlin"

Why US-Saudi ties are strained but not broken ⬇ https://t.co/cYf3eHD1Zf

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) October 24, 2022

Saudi Arabia, the OPEC de facto leader, said it would continue with its voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day (bpd) for the month of November and until the end of the year and that it would review the decision again next month.

The kingdom's production for November and December will be approximately 9 million bpd, the energy ministry said in a statement.

"This voluntary cut decision will be reviewed next month to consider deepening the cut or increasing production," the statement said.

Saudi Arabia first implemented the additional voluntary cut in July and has been renewing it monthly.

It said in September the cut would last until year end but would be reviewed on a monthly basis.

Russia in August said it would reduce exports by 300,000 bpd until the end of this year.

The Saudi and Russian additional voluntary cuts come on top of April cuts agreed by them and several OPEC+ producers, which extend to the end of 2024.

(Reuters)