OPEC+ decides to keep output steady in December

Seven members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies (OPEC+) have agreed to continue the pause on its oil output hike in December, after increasing it by 188,000 b/d in September.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman have decided to keep production steady next month, maintaining the same policy as November, after months of output hikes to unwind the 1.65 million b/d in voluntary production cuts announced in April 2023.

In November 2025, the members decided to pause production hikes in the first quarter of this year, citing steady market conditions. This temporary freeze was followed by consecutive output increases in recent months, as the group sought to recapture market share.

The latest decision to pause output hikes came amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has led to repeated strikes on energy infrastructure across the region.

OPEC+’s leading producers, Saudi Arabia and Russia, are set to produce about 10.5 million b/d and 9.9 million b/d of crude oil in December, respectively, matching this month’s production levels.

Iraq is expected to produce about 4.4 million b/d next month.

The seven OPEC+ members will next meet on 29 November to review market conditions.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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