OPEC unlikely to curb production

Austria

VIENNA, December 4, 2015 – Oil prices fell on Friday after sources said OPEC looked unlikely to take steps to cut oil production in in order to retain market share and raise its output ceiling.

Internationally traded Brent was down $0.91 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $42.93 per barrel at 2.21pm GMT, having slumped earlier in the week to a low of $42.43. US crude was trading at $39.91 per barrel, down $1.17, or 2.9 percent.

OPEC had been widely expected to stick with its year-old policy, despite pressure from poorer members of the organisation on its wealthier members, such as Saudi Arabia, for a cut in production levels.

Saudi Arabia had previously said they would be prepared to consider a reduction in output only if OPEC members Iraq and Iran agreed to co-operate and non-OPEC members, including Russia, did the same. However, Russia repeated this week it saw no chance of joint actions, while Iran and Iraq on Friday appeared unwilling to limit crude supply either.

OPEC sources said the organisation had agreed to raise its output ceiling to 31.5 million barrels of oil per day (bopd) at its meeting in Vienna. Supply from the cartel rose to 31.8 million bopd in November, from 31.64 million bopd in October, according to a Reuters survey.

Read our latest insights on:

• Iraq
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia

Previous

Eni and Anadarko reach gas unitisation deal

Next

Fire rips through oil platform in Azerbaijan