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OPEC+ Agrees to Raise Output by 206,000 bpd

FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) outside their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) outside their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo
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OPEC+ Agrees to Raise Output by 206,000 bpd

FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) outside their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view of the logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) outside their headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 30, 2023. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo

The eight OPEC+ countries on Sunday agreed to a modest oil output boost of 206,000 barrels per day for April, a decision framed as a response to steady market fundamentals and global economic growth.

The action comes at a time when energy markets are on high alert as navigation in the Strait of Hormuz has been halted following the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The meeting on Sunday involved only eight members of OPEC+ - Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman.

OPEC+ groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies like Russia but most production changes in the past years have been done by the eight members.

“In view of a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories, the eight participating countries decided to resume the unwinding of the 1.65 million barrels per day of additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023 and agreed on a production adjustment of 206 thousand barrels per day,” the eight members said in a statement.

“This adjustment will be implemented in April 2026 as detailed in the table below. The 1.65 million barrels per day may be returned in part or in full subject to evolving market conditions and in a gradual manner,” they added.

Also, the countries said they will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability, they reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments of the 2.2 million barrels per day announced in November 2023.

The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation.

They reiterated their collective commitment to achieve full conformity with the Declaration of Cooperation, including the additional voluntary production adjustments that will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC).

They confirmed their intention to fully compensate for any overproduced volume since January 2024.

The eight OPEC+ countries will hold monthly meetings to review market conditions, conformity, and compensation. They will meet on April 5.

The eight members had raised production quotas by about 2.9 million bpd from April through December 2025, roughly 3% of global demand, before pausing increases for January to March 2026 due to seasonal weakness.

Oil, gas and other shipments from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz have come to a halt since Saturday after shipowners received a warning from Iran saying the area was closed for navigation.

Hundreds of ships dropped anchor and were not moving on Sunday and several ships came under attack. Hormuz is the world's most important oil route accounting for over 20% of global oil transit.

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War Weighs on Egypt’s Private Sector as PMI Hits Near Two-Year Low in March

People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
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War Weighs on Egypt’s Private Sector as PMI Hits Near Two-Year Low in March

People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)
People walk past a closed cinema as shops close early under a government-ordered curfew aimed at reducing energy costs in downtown Cairo on April 2, 2026. (AFP)

Egypt's non-oil private ‌sector deteriorated at its sharpest pace in almost two years in March, as the Middle East war drove up costs and dampened client demand, a closely watched business survey showed on Sunday.

The headline S&P Global Egypt Purchasing Managers' Index fell for a fourth consecutive month, dropping to 48.0 in March from 48.9 in February — its lowest reading since April 2024.

The ‌figure remained below ‌the 50.0 threshold that ‌separates growth ⁠from contraction, though ⁠it was broadly in line with the survey's long-run average of 48.2.

Output and new orders were the chief drags on the index, with both measures also hitting their lowest levels for nearly two years. Firms frequently blamed ⁠the Middle East conflict for dampening client ‌demand, partly through ‌intensifying price pressures.

In a first, business expectations for the ‌coming 12 months slipped into negative territory, with ‌companies citing uncertainty over the war as a key reason for pessimism, though the degree of gloom was described as mild.

David Owen, senior economist at ‌S&P Global Market Intelligence, nevertheless noted that "the latest figure of 48.0 still relates ⁠to ⁠annual GDP growth of around 4.3%," adding that "recent data suggests the domestic non-oil sector is on a solid underlying growth path."

Cost pressures remained a serious concern, however. Input prices surged at their joint-sharpest pace in one-and-a-half years, as firms cited fuel costs and other war-related commodity price increases, compounded by a stronger US dollar.

In response, companies raised their selling prices at the fastest rate in 10 months, though the increase remained modest overall.

Business

Middle East War Presents ‘Serious Risk’ for Africa, Warns Report

Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
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Middle East War Presents ‘Serious Risk’ for Africa, Warns Report

Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)
Festus Mwirotsi, 34, scouts for pests and diseases in roses meant for export at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Kenya, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP)

The Middle East war "presents a serious risk to Africa", the African Union and the African Development Bank (AfDB) said in a report seen by AFP Saturday.

The conflict threatens to increase the cost of living and curtail growth on the continent, the report warned.

The Middle East accounts for 15.8 percent of Africa's imports and 10.9 percent of its exports, the report noted.

"The conflict, which already has triggered a trade shock, could quickly turn into a cost-of-living crisis across Africa through higher fuel and food prices, rising shipping and insurance costs, exchange rate pressures, and tighter fiscal conditions," it added.

The growth rate of most African countries continues to be slower than before the Covid pandemic, it noted.

"A loss in output growth of 0.2 percentage points on Africa's GDP is projected for 2026 if it (the conflict) exceeds six months," it said.

"The longer the conflict lasts and the more severe the disruption to shipping routes and energy and fertilizer supplies, the greater the risk of a significant growth slowdown across the continent."

Reduced deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Gulf will impact fertilizer production, limiting its availability during the crucial planting period up to May, it added.

- Currencies hit -

The report was compiled by the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

According to recent data from the AfDB, the currencies of 29 African countries have already depreciated, increasing the cost of servicing external debt, making imports more expensive and reducing foreign exchange reserves,

Some countries could see some short-term gains, such as Nigeria for its oil exports or Mozambique for its LNG.

The rerouting of ships around Cape of Good Hope could benefit ports in Mozambique, South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius.

Kenya is establishing itself as a logistics hub in East Africa, while Ethiopian Airlines, the leading carrier in Africa, is serving as an "emergency air bridge" between the continent, Asia, and Europe, the report noted.

But these gains are likely to be uneven and will not offset the consequences for inflation, budgets, and food security in Africa, they warned.

Above all, the current crisis could hit the costs of humanitarian aid and divert donor funds towards other priorities.

Business

Taiwan Says It Has Assurances over LNG Supplies from 'Major' Country

The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
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Taiwan Says It Has Assurances over LNG Supplies from 'Major' Country

The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)
The Taipei 101 skyscraper is seen lit up before the Earth Hour in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/ Chiang Ying-ying)

Taiwan has received ‌supply assurances from the energy minister of a "major" liquefied natural gas-producing country, the island's economy minister said on Saturday, speaking about the Iran war's impact on Middle East energy imports.

Taiwan, a major semiconductor producer, had relied on Qatar for around a third of its LNG before the conflict, and has said it has secured alternate supplies for the months ahead from countries including Australia and the United States, said Reuters.

Speaking to ‌reporters in Taipei, ‌Economy Minister Kung Ming-hsin said that ‌because ⁠Taiwan has good ⁠relationships with its crude oil and natural gas suppliers, neither adjusting shipment origins nor purchasing additional spot cargoes would be a problem.

Kung said that about two weeks ago the energy minister of a certain "major energy-producing country" proactively contacted him.

The person "explained to us that they ⁠would fully support our natural gas needs. ‌If we have any ‌demand, we can let them know," he added.

"Another country even ‌said that some countries have released strategic petroleum ‌reserves, and they could also help coordinate matters if Taiwan needs assistance," Kung said.

"This shows that Taiwan has in fact earned considerable goodwill internationally through the long-term trust ‌it has built over the years," he said.

He declined to name the countries involved.

Angela ⁠Lin, ⁠spokesperson for state-owned refiner CPC, said at the same news conference that crude oil inventories were being maintained at pre-conflict levels and overall petrochemical feedstock supplies have remained stable.

CPC Chairman Fang Jeng-zen said that to reduce dependence on the Middle East, a new contract with the US will see 1.2 million metric tons of LNG supplied annually, with even more to come in the future, including eventually from Alaska.

However, Taiwan is not considering importing crude or LNG from Russia, he added.