Opec cuts oil production steeply
london — Opec said on Tuesday it had cut oil production steeply under a global supply deal, although it flagged headwinds confronting its efforts to prevent a glut this year, including weaker demand and higher rival output.
In a monthly report, Opec said its oil output fell almost 800,000 barrels per day in January to 30.81 million bpd. That is still slightly more than the expected 2019 demand for Opec crude, which the group lowered to 30.59 million bpd.
In the report, Opec cut its forecast for 2019 world economic growth by 0.2 percentage point to 3.3 per cent and highlighted a range of headwinds, including a slowdown in global trade.
“Some recent positive developments could support the global economy at its current level, including the recovery in oil prices, possible progress in US-China trade negotiations and less-ambitious monetary tightening by the US Federal Reserve,” Opec said. “Nevertheless, this would not lift the global economy beyond the growth forecast.”
With the supply cut delivered in January, Opec has achieved 86 per cent compliance with pledged reductions, according to a Reuters calculation. This rate could rise in coming months as Saudi Arabia voluntarily lowers supply by more than it agreed.
Saudi Arabia plans to pump around 9.8 million bpd in March, more than 500,000 bpd below its target under the deal, its energy
minister told the
World oil demand will grow more slowly this year, Opec said, and non-Opec production will rise more rapidly than expected.
Opec forecast global oil demand would grow by 1.24 million bpd, down 50,000 bpd from last month.