OPEC+ agrees to voluntary oil output cuts, invites Brazil to join

London/Moscow/Dubai: OPEC+ oil producers on Thursday agreed to voluntary output cuts approaching 2 million barrels per day (bpd) for early next year led by Saudi Arabia rolling over its current voluntary cut, delegates told Reuters.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC+, who pump more than 40 per cent of the world's oil, failed to agree a group cut at a virtual meeting on Thursday but members did go along with voluntary cuts.

Oil prices fell after rising by more than 1 per cent earlier in the session after OPEC+ producers agreed to the cuts. Benchmark Brent crude for February futures were down 1.6 per cent to $81.52 a barrel at 1747 GMT. The front-month January contract is due to expire on Thursday.

OPEC+ also invited Brazil, a Top 10 producer, to become a member of the group. The country's energy minister said it hoped to join in January.

OPEC+'s output of some 43 million bpd already reflects cuts of about 5 million bpd aimed at supporting prices and stabilising the market.

Saudi Arabia confirmed it will extend its voluntary cut for the first quarter of 2024. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia's voluntary cut would be extended for the first quarter and reach 500,000 bpd including both crude and products.

Algeria's energy minister told Reuters his country had agreed to cut output by 50,000 bpd while Kazakhstan said it would cut an extra 82,000 bpd in the first quarter.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia Kazakhstan and Algeria were among producers who said cuts will be unwound gradually after the first quarter market conditions permitting.

OPEC+ is focused on lower output with prices down from near $98 in late September and concerns brewing over weaker economic growth in 2024 and expectations of a supply surplus.