OPEC August oil output rises, but outages limit gain

OPEC oil output rose in August to its highest since April 2020, a Reuters survey found, although involuntary losses limited the gain as the group's top producers further eased supply curbs under a pact with its allies.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has pumped 26.93 million barrels per day (bpd), the survey found, up 210,000 bpd from July's estimate. Output has risen every month since June 2020, apart from in February.

OPEC and allies, known as OPEC+, have been easing record output cuts agreed in April 2020 as demand recovers. OPEC+ meets on Wednesday and, with oil up 40% this year at almost $73 a barrel , is expected to stick to its policy.

"Given the current level of oil prices and the possibility of increasing oil demand, OPEC+ is likely to adhere to its previous decision," an OPEC+ source told Reuters.

The OPEC+ agreement allows for a 400,000 bpd production increase in August from all members, of which 253,000 bpd is shared by the 10 OPEC members covered by the deal, OPEC figures seen by Reuters show.

While the 10 OPEC members raised output by more than this, OPEC as a whole has under-delivered on the expected month-on-month rise, the survey found. Members are still pumping less than called for under the latest deal.

The Reuters survey aims to track supply to the market and is based on shipping data provided by external sources, Refinitiv Eikon flows data, information from tanker trackers such as Petro-Logistics and Kpler, and information provided by sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants.

OPEC compliance with pledged cuts was 115%, the survey found, a level unchanged from July.