OPEC+ delays oil capacity review after Iran war disrupts expansion plans, sources say
- OPEC+'s 2027 oil quota review is delayed due to Middle East conflict, creating uncertainty in future production capacity
LONDON/MOSCOW: An OPEC+ review to help to determine members’ 2027 oil output quotas has been delayed after the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupted projects to expand capacity across the Middle East, throwing estimates of future production potential into uncertainty, said two sources close to the matter.
OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies, had ordered its production capacity review for all members in late 2025 before setting 2027 quotas, with completion due by the end of September 2026.
The deadline has slipped, the sources said, with one saying the review is now expected to be completed by mid-November.
The OPEC producer group did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
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Production capacity estimates in flux
The Middle East conflict has delayed projects that were due to boost production capacity in some OPEC+ countries, complicating estimates of how much oil they will be capable of pumping. Not all countries have submitted the data required for the review, the sources said without naming the countries.
The uncertainty complicates a politically sensitive exercise for OPEC+, with production capacity estimates likely to influence how much individual members are allowed to pump.
The review aims to provide an updated independent assessment of how much oil each member can produce sustainably, a key metric used in negotiations over output targets. Delays to planned capacity additions could affect assumptions underpinning those assessments and, potentially, members’ future quotas.
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Countries whose assessed capacity is lower could face pressure for lower quotas while producers that have expanded capacity might seek higher allocations.
The United Arab Emirates, which had pushed for a higher quota from OPEC+ to reflect rising production capacity, left the alliance in May.
Iraq is also seeking a higher quota and has considered leaving OPEC, sources told Reuters in June.
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