OPEC extends oil supply cut to prop up prices as economy weakens

OPEC agreed on Monday to extend oil supply cuts until March 2020, three OPEC sources said, as the group's members overcame their differences in order to prop up the price of crude amid a weakening global economy and soaring U.S. production.

The move will likely anger U.S. President Donald Trump, who has demanded OPEC leader Saudi Arabia supply more oil and help reduce prices at the pump if Riyadh wants U.S. military support in its standoff with arch-rival Iran.

Benchmark Brent crude has climbed more than 25% so far this year after the White House tightened sanctions on OPEC members Venezuela and Iran, slashing their oil exports.

 

OPEC and its allies led by Russia have been reducing oil output since 2017 to prevent prices from sliding amid soaring production from the United States, which has overtaken Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's top producer.

Fears about weaker global demand as a result of a U.S.-China trade spat have added to the challenges faced by the 14-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

"Saudi Arabia is doing its best to achieve oil prices at $70 per barrel despite what Trump wants. But they haven't accomplished that even with Iranian and Venezuelan oil exports dropping. And the reasons for that are weak demand and U.S. shale growth," said Gary Ross from Black Gold Investors.

The United States, also the world's largest oil consumer, is not a member of OPEC, nor is it participating in the supply pact. A jump in oil prices might lead to costlier gasoline, a key issue for Trump as he seeks re-election next year.

Brent initially rose as much as $2 on Monday towards $67 per barrel as traders cited OPEC's resolve to curb output. It later edged down to trade below $65. [O/R]

WORSENING GEOPOLITICAL RISK

The OPEC meeting on Monday will be followed by talks with Russia and other allies, a grouping known as OPEC+, on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he had agreed with Saudi Arabia to extend existing output cuts of 1.2 million barrels per day, or 1.2% of global demand, until December 2019 or March 2020.

Oil prices could stall as a slowing global economy squeezes demand and U.S. oil floods the market, a Reuters poll of analysts found.

"I think nine months gives us enough runway to wait for the market to balance," Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said.

He said Saudi Arabia would continue reducing supplies to customers in July.

"The reason for extending the deal by nine months instead of six is to assure the markets that the deal will remain in place through the seasonally soft demand period in the first quarter of 2020," said Amrita Sen, co-founder of Energy Aspects.

The meeting on Monday was in its fifth hour as ministers discussed a charter for long-term cooperation with non-OPEC, OPEC sources said, adding that Iran and Saudi Arabia were arguing about the content of a draft.

On Monday, Iran criticised Saudi Arabia for making decisions on OPEC policy unilaterally with Russia, saying such action was the main challenge for the survival of the organisation.

Iran's exports plummeted to 0.3 million barrels per day in June from as much as 2.5 million bpd in April 2018 due to Washington's fresh sanctions.

Oil output in OPEC's exempt nations: https://tmsnrt.rs/2Fx7Lcc

The sanctions are putting Iran under unprecedented pressure. Even in 2012, when the European Union joined U.S. sanctions on Tehran, the country's exports stood at around 1 million bpd. Oil represents the lion's share of Iran's budget revenues.

Washington has said it wants to change what it calls a "corrupt" regime in Tehran. Iran has denounced the sanctions as illegal and says the White House is run by "mentally retarded" people.

"Worsening tensions between the U.S. and Iran add potential for oil price volatility that could be tricky for OPEC members to manage," said Ann-Louise Hittle, vice president, macro oils, at consultancy Wood Mackenzie.