Caspian cuts
The two producers have pledged to trim oil output but the long-awaited Kashagan project will probably boost the region's supply, not crimp it
Between them, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are on the hook for 55,000 barrels a day in cuts. Baku is to account for 35,000 b/d (or 0.87m tonnes) of this, and says the oil will be gone by June. It's not clear how serious Kazakhstan is taking its commitment to the deal, especially with big plans underway to lift production from its much-delayed Kashagan project. Azerbaijan: the cuts were coming anyway Azerbaijan's reduction is actually natural decline dressed up as a cut, and the target is in line with what it was expecting to lose, deal or no deal. Output in 2017, says the government, will come in at 39.8m tonnes (about 0.8m b/d), compared with 41.2m last year. Whether this drop enters the ledge
Also in this section
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations
28 April 2026
Restoring supply from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Iraq involves complexities far beyond simply adjusting operational controls






