OPEC+ seen sticking to output policy as prices hover near record

A group of some of the world’s most powerful oil producers agreed on Wednesday to a further planned increase in output, even as crude prices trade near record levels amid geopolitical tensions.

OPEC and non-OPEC partners, an influential energy alliance known as OPEC+, swiftly decided to green-light the return of 400,000 barrels per day for March.

The move, widely expected by energy analysts, marks a continuation of the group’s strategy to gradually reopen the taps.

Led by OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC leader Russia, the energy alliance is in the process of unwinding record supply cuts of roughly 10 million barrels per day. The historic production cut was put in place in April 2020 to help the energy market recover after the coronavirus pandemic cratered demand for crude.

OPEC+ has faced pressure from top consumers such as the U.S. and India to pump more to reduce prices and aid the economic recovery. The group has resisted calls for speedier increases despite higher oil prices.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak has previously said the broader group does not wish to boost production levels too quickly as it remains wary of potential changes to demand.

International benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $90.29 a barrel on Wednesday afternoon in London, around 1.3% higher for the session and hovering slightly below the seven-year high of $91.70 reached last week.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures, meanwhile, stood at $89.60, up around 1.6%.

OPEC alone accounts for around 40% of the world’s oil supply.

Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told CNBC’s Brian Sullivan on Wednesday that OPEC+ was likely to stay the course for now.

“I think they are still likely to proceed as planned with the 400,000 barrels per day monthly increase,” Croft said ahead of the meeting. “The problem is that they are not doing 400,000 barrels because of problems with Nigeria [and] Angola.”

Several OPEC members have struggled to meet the group’s monthly output increases in recent months.

In the event oil prices were to move materially higher — a move broadly expected by analysts on Wall Street — Croft said she would expect Saudi Arabia to cap any upside risk amid fears of faltering oil demand.

“The expected announcement of a supply hike will likely feed the price rally,” Stephen Brennock, analyst at oil broker PVM, said on Wednesday in a research note.

“This is because it will be interpreted as a reduction in OPEC+ spare capacity rather than a rise in global oil inventories.”

That said, Brennock suggested oil’s march toward $100 a barrel could soon come to a halt before resuming at the…