Oil
OPEC oil output rises in September despite Middle East conflict
OPEC production climbed to 21.49 million barrels per day in September 2026, driven by gains in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Key points
- OPEC production increased by 1.78 million barrels per day month-on-month in September 2026.
- Saudi Arabia and Iraq led the output gains despite regional security disruptions.
- The broader OPEC+ alliance decided to maintain steady production targets for November.
What happened
Crude output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries reached 21.49 million barrels per day in September 2026, according to a Reuters survey. This represented a month-on-month rise of 1.78 million barrels per day. Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for the largest production increases during the period. The gains occurred even as regional conflict hindered the full implementation of planned output hikes agreed upon by seven members of the wider OPEC+ coalition.
Why it matters
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East impacted regional energy infrastructure during the month. Strikes targeting Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline interrupted flows toward the Yanbu port on the Red Sea. Consequently, Saudi Aramco suspended certain October shipments destined for European refiners under long-term supply agreements. Meanwhile, Iraq sought to revise its future production baseline calculations within the OPEC+ framework and pursued alternative export pathways through Türkiye and Syria to minimize dependence on southern maritime terminals.
What comes next
Following these developments, the producer group resolved to leave its output quotas unchanged for November. Energy markets continue to monitor supply reliability as Brent spot prices stood at 126.55 US dollars per barrel on 14 October 2026, according to US Energy Information Administration figures.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
9.5% of world merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
