Opinion
OPEC+ strikes a deal to avoid oil glut
The production cuts agreed by the OPEC+ group in April have been highly effective in rebalancing the oil market after the pandemic sent demand plunging. With hopes growing of a stronger rebound next year, some countries, led by the United Arab Emirates, have been calling for OPEC+ to stick to its plan to allow almost 2 million b/d of extra production in January. But demand is expected still to be weak in the first quarter at least, as the Covid-19 vaccines begin to be rolled out. An OPEC+ production increase of that size would have risked an oversupplied market and falling crude prices. Facing that risk, the OPEC+ ministers pulled back from the brink and agreed a production increase of just 500,000 b/d, to be reviewed for possible further increases every month.
