Saudi Arabia Crude Exports Fall to 6 Million Barrels Per Day in April

FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
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Saudi Arabia Crude Exports Fall to 6 Million Barrels Per Day in April

FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo

Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports fell to 6 million barrels per day from 6.413 million bpd in March, data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) showed on Monday.
The decline in Saudi exports comes in line with the OPEC+ agreement to cut production, in order to maintain market stability.
OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support the market amid rising output from the United States and other non-member producers and worries over demand as major economies grapple with high interest rates.
OPEC+ members are currently cutting output by a total of 5.86 million barrels per day (bpd), or about 5.7% of global demand. Those include 3.66 million bpd of cuts, which were due to expire at the end of 2024, and voluntary cuts by eight members of 2.2 million bpd.
On June 2, OPEC+ agreed to extend most of its deep oil output cuts well into 2025 as the group seeks to shore up the market amid tepid demand growth, high interest rates and rising rival US production.
OPEC+ will also gradually phase out the cuts of 2.2 million bpd over the course of a year from October 2024 to September 2025. Eight countries, including Russia, had already pledged to cut production.
Monthly export figures are provided by Riyadh and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), which published them on its website.



Former Poland Goalkeeper Szczesny Joins Barcelona after Announcing His Retirement in August

FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
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Former Poland Goalkeeper Szczesny Joins Barcelona after Announcing His Retirement in August

FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)

Barcelona added former Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to its squad on Wednesday to help make up for the absence of the injured Marc-André ter Stegen.

Szczesny had retired from professional soccer in August after leaving Italian club Juventus, but he said it would be “stupid” not to accept the Barcelona offer.

He said former Poland teammate Robert Lewandowski played a big part in the signing as the Barcelona striker was “probably the very first person that called” to ask Szczesny if there was a possibility of coming out of retirement.

“It took some convincing,” Szczesny said. “At the start I wasn’t sure if I’m ready for new challenges, but then I spoke with my family and I spoke with my friends and everybody told me how stupid I would be if I didn’t accept this. And I agreed with them.”

Barcelona said the 34-year-old Szczesny arrives “in unusual circumstances but there is no doubt that his CV speaks for itself.”

“It's a very proud moment,” Szczesny said. “I was honestly ready for retirement and I was happy there. I wouldn't do this for anybody else. It's exciting, it's a challenge for me, and it's a challenge that I face with a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm. I'm ready for it.”

Barcelona said it had reached a deal for Szczesny to stay until the end of the season.

Ter Stegen, one of the team's captains, had surgery after rupturing a tendon in his right knee in a Spanish league game and is expected to be sidelined for several months.

Iñaki Peña has been Barcelona’s starter in goal since Ter Stegen got injured last month. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has backed the 25-year-old Peña but said the club would look to add an experienced goalkeeper to the squad.

Szczesny attended Barcelona's 5-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday, watching the match from a VIP section at the Montjuic stadium.

Szczesny, who also starred for Arsenal, made 84 appearances for Poland, including at this year's European Championship. He featured in two World Cups and four Euros.