OPEC on Wednesday kept its forecast for relatively strong growth in global oil demand in 2025, saying air and road travel would support consumption, and reported that Kazahkstan led a jump in February OPEC+ output despite an ongoing production pact.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in a monthly report, said world oil demand will rise by 1.45 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 and by 1.43 million bpd in 2026. Both forecasts were unchanged from last month.
“Trade concerns are expected to contribute to volatility as trade policies continue to be unveiled. However, the global economy is expected to adjust,” OPEC said in the report.
OPEC also published figures showing a 363,000 bpd increase in production by the wider OPEC+ group in February, led by a jump in Kazakhstan which is lagging in its adherence to OPEC+ output quotas.
According to the OPEC data, Kazakhstan produced 1.767 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in February, up from 1.570 million bpd in January.
It has promised to cut the output and compensate for overproduction.
However, it is boosting oil production at the Chevron-led Tengiz oilfield, the country’s largest.
Russia’s crude oil output edged down by 0.04% to 8.973 million barrels per day (bpd) in February from 8.977 million bpd January, according to OPEC.
It was slightly below Russia’s output quota of 8.98 million bpd under a pact among OPEC+ producers.
Russia’s quota is expected to rise to 9.004 mln bpd from April with OPEC+’ overall gradual increase of output.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said last week that the OPEC+ group agreed to start increasing oil production from April, but could reverse the decision afterward if there are market imbalances.
