OPEC+ supply ramps up in February
Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Nigeria and Kazakhstan all add significant volumes as core OPEC-9 feels the strain of compliance
Even before OPEC+ officially announced it was opening the spigot by unwinding cuts gradually from April, the group had been exceeding its official allocations. According to Petroleum Economist’s estimates, OPEC-9’s compliance with cuts fell to around 98% in February as the group boosted its output by 80,000b/d compared with January production. Iran and Venezuela also maximised their supply ahead of US President Donald Trump’s shifting policy towards them. Among OPEC+ producers, Kazakhstan ramped up its production as more oil came from the Tengiz oilfield. Trump told OPEC+ members in his January World Economic Forum speech to “bring down the oil price” by increasing supply. 98% – OPEC-9

Also in this section
17 July 2025
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
16 July 2025
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery
15 July 2025
Government consultations on the windfall tax and the exploration licence ban are positive steps, but it is unclear how long it will take for them to yield tangible outcomes
15 July 2025
A brutally honest picture about the potential role of oil and gas in 2050 should prompt policymakers to not only reflect but also change course to meet vital energy needs