OPEC+ Agrees to Delay October Oil Output Hike for 2 Months

FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed oil pump jack is seen in front of displayed OPEC logo in this illustration picture, April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/File Photo

OPEC+ has agreed to delay a planned oil output increase for October and November, the producers group said on Thursday after crude prices hit their lowest in nine months, adding that it could further pause or reverse the hikes if needed.
Oil prices have been falling along with other asset classes on concerns about a weak global economy and soft data from China, the world's biggest oil importer.
Eight members of OPEC+, which is made up of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, that had been scheduled to raise output from October held a virtual meeting on Thursday, OPEC said in a statement, according to Reuters.
"The eight participating countries have agreed to extend their additional voluntary production cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day for two months until the end of November 2024," OPEC said.
The news lifted oil prices by over $1 a barrel, with Brent futures trading over $74 before paring gains. It fell to its lowest this year on Wednesday.
OPEC+'s planned October hike was for 180,000 bpd, a fraction of the 5.86 million bpd of output it is holding back, equal to about 5.7% of global demand, to support the market due to uncertainty about demand and rising supply outside the group.
Last week, OPEC+ was set to proceed with the increase. But fragile oil market sentiment over the prospect of more supply from OPEC+ and an end to a dispute halting Libyan exports, coupled with a weakening demand outlook, raised concern within the group, sources said.
OPEC+ ministers hold a full meeting of the group to decide policy on Dec. 1. A group of top OPEC+ ministers called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee that can recommend changes gathers on Oct. 2.