- Russia shocked oil markets early on Friday morning by announcing a voluntary production cut of 500,000 bpd in March.
- Two delegates from the OPEC+ alliance told Reuters that the group doesn’t plan to alter its production targets after the announcement.
- The Kremlin said that it discussed its plans to cut with some OPEC+ members but did not formally discuss consult with the group.
The OPEC+ group currently doesn’t plan to change the course in its oil production targets after Russia announced a cut in its output for March, two delegates from the OPEC+ alliance told Reuters on Friday. Earlier today, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia, a member of OPEC+, would cut its oil production by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March, as a result of the Western sanctions and the price cap on Russian crude oil. The announcement from Russia sent oil prices up by 2% early on Friday and on course for a significant gain for the week. “As of today, we are fully selling the entire volume of oil produced, however, as stated earlier, we will not sell oil to those who directly or indirectly adhere to the principles of the ‘price cap’,” Novak said, as carried by Reuters. The Russian official added that Russia would “voluntarily reduce production by 500,000 barrels per day in March.” According to the Kremlin, Russia discussed its plan to cut production with some members of the OPEC+ alliance, in which Russia is a key member leading the group of non-OPEC producers. Russia, however, had not formally consulted with OPEC+ on its plans before announcing the decision, a Russian government source has told Reuters. Last week, OPEC+ kept its production targets unchanged in a widely expected ‘wait-and-see’ approach to supply just ahead of the EU ban on Russian diesel and other petroleum products. Supply from Russia, demand in China, the state of the economies in the coming months, and the trend in interest rate hikes in the U.S. and other major mature economies will be the key decision drivers for OPEC+ this year.—the group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia is unlikely to leave oil trading below $80 per barrel. As will be the price of oil on the markets. NN: I call it the Saudi call option. Every time CLNY falls under $80 a barrel usually within a matters= of days it gains back the $80.00 prince point