Opec’s swing producers to stick to deal

Opec’s top producers are unlikely to deviate from an agreement that has brought market stability and buoyed prices

Saudi Arabia has continued to reject calls from the US to increase oil production as Brent crude hovers around $90-100/bl. The latest rejection comes amid increased speculation that the Kingdom and the UAE—holders of the bulk of global spare production capacity—could break from the 2020 output restraint deal signed between Opec and ten non-member countries in order to increase their market share and make the most of current prices. The US State Department’s energy envoy, Amos Hochstein, and National Security Council Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh in February with the goal of pressuring the country to raise production and stabilise the market.