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The logo of German chemicals maker Covestro is pictured outside its headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany, July 26, 2019. The sign of change from Covestro's previous stance comes after two top-15 investors of the plastics and chemicals maker told Reuters last month that it should engage in formal takeover talks in the interest of its shareholders. The German group's shares were up 8.6% at 51.96 euros at 1445 GMT, their highest level in about 18 months. In August, ADNOC indicated to Covestro, which has not commented on the takeover approach, that it could raise its informal offer to 60 euros conditional on the German company entering formal talks, Reuters reported at the time. That non-binding offer would value Covestro, a maker of chemicals used in insulation, upholstery foams, coatings and transparent engineering plastics, at about 11.6 billion euros ($12.4 billion).

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Abu, ADNOC, Ludwig Burger, Urvi, Elisa Martinuzzi, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, Covestro, BASF, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Bengaluru

☆ Exclusive: Poland charters tankers used for Russian oil to import Arab crude
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Many oil majors have avoided contracting tankers that have carried Russian crude because of the risk of sanctions and self-imposed restrictions. Under the price cap, western companies can ship and provide insurance for Russian oil and products provided they are sold at less than $60 per barrel. "Dead freight is one of the issues when working with Russian oil as not all companies agree to use ships involved in Urals deliveries," the trader said. Orlen said it was not involved in any Russian oil shipping and it screened all vessels it uses to ensure no Russian sanctions are violated. Russian oil has been mostly shipped to Asia following the EU embargo.

Persons: Orlen, Russia's Zarubezhneft, Sidi Kerir, Nissos Delos, Marek Strzelecki, Maha El, Barbara Lewis Organizations: MOSCOW, Group, European Union, Botafogo, TMS, Kyklades, Saudi Aramco, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, Lithuania, Poland, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, ASIA, Poland's Gdansk, Lithuania's, Russian Baltic, Baltic, Primorsk, Mundra, West India, Saudi, Sidi, Gdansk, Waikiki, Bonita, Nissos, Calida, Butinge, Russia's, Ust, India, Warsaw, Maha, Maha El Dahan, Dubai

☆ Taliban stopped 100 women flying to Dubai for university scholarships, UAE billionaire says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Charlotte Greenfield | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Afghan women shout slogans during a rally to protest against what the protesters say is Taliban restrictions on women, in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 28, 2021. REUTERS/Ali Khara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 23 (Reuters) - The head of a Dubai-based conglomerate on Wednesday said Afghanistan's Taliban authorities had stopped around 100 women from travelling to the United Arab Emirates where he was to sponsor their university education. Spokespeople for the Taliban administration and Afghan foreign affairs ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. They allow Afghans to leave the country but usually require Afghan women travelling long distances and abroad to be accompanied by a male chaperone, such as their husband, father or brother. Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and Maha El Dahan Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ali Khara, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Al Habtoor, Charlotte Greenfield, Maha El, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, United, United Arab Emirates, Al, UAE, Thomson Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, Dubai, United Arab, Maha

This would boost the oil giant's non-binding bid to about 11.6 billion euros ($12.63 billion), the people said. The indication of a raised offer is, however, not in writing, the people cautioned, adding that Covestro will take time to consider any next steps. ADNOC last raised its informal offer to 57 euros per share in July. Covestro shares jumped about 4.2% in a volume spike after Bloomberg News first reported that ADNOC was prepared to sweeten its offer. Earlier in August, Covestro reported a 21% fall in revenues to 3.7 billion euros in the second quarter.

Persons: Toru Hanai, ADNOC, Covestro, Austria's, Emma, Victoria Farr, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Reuters, Bloomberg News, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, FRANKFURT, DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Maha, Dubai

Aramco's net profit fell to 112.81 billion riyals ($30.07 billion) for the quarter to June 30 from 181.64 billion riyals a year earlier, beating a company-provided median estimate from 15 analysts of $29.8 billion. The group declared a base dividend of about $19.5 billion for the second quarter, roughly in line with its payout for the first quarter. Aramco will begin paying performance-linked dividends for six quarters, starting with a $9.87 billion payout in the third quarter, it said. A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. The firm still sees capital expenditure at between $45 billion and $55 billion this year, Nasser said on a media call.

Persons: Maxim, Graphics Brent, Brent, Amin Nasser, Nasser, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Jan Harvey, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Aramco, Investment Fund, Saudi, REUTERS, Graphics, of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: China chem, DUBAI, Saudi Arabian, Aramco, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Abqaiq, Moscow, Riyadh

☆ Aramco Q2 profit down 38% to $30 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File PhotoCompanies Saudi Arabian Oil Co FollowDUBAI, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian state oil giant Aramco (2222.SE) on Monday reported a near 38% drop in second-quarter net profit reflecting lower oil prices and thinner margins in refining and chemicals. Aramco's net profit fell to 112.81 billion riyals ($30.07 billion) for the quarter to June 30 from 181.64 billion a year earlier, the company said in a bourse filing, but topped the $29.8 billion expected by 15 analysts in an Aramco-provided poll. ($1 = 3.7513 riyals)Reporting by Maha El Dahan and Yousef Saba; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maxim, Maha El Dahan, Yousef Saba, Jason Neely Organizations: Saudi, REUTERS, Companies Saudi Arabian Oil, Thomson Locations: Saudi Aramco, Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, DUBAI, Saudi Arabian, Aramco, bourse

☆ Ukraine seeks progress towards peace at Saudi Arabia talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Maha El Dahan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukrainian, Russian and international officials say there is no prospect of direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia at present, with the war raging. The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, which has maintained contacts with both sides since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, has played a role in convening countries that did not join earlier meetings, Western diplomats have said. SAUDI DIPLOMACYWestern officials and analysts said Saudi diplomacy had been important in securing China's presence at the talks. Zelenskiy attended an Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia last year where MbS voiced readiness to help mediate in the war. In March, Beijing brokered a resumption of ties between Saudi Arabia and its arch regional foe Iran.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Volodymyr Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Russia's, Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, Ajit Doval, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Xi Jinping, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice, Yun Sun, Sun, Lidia Kelly, Maha El Dahan, Omar Abdel, Michael Martina, Aftab Ahmed, Angus McDowall, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: International, REUTERS, Saudi, Global, Kremlin, Eurasian Affairs, Indian National Security, Crown, Arab, MbS, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Iran, Baker Institute, Stimson, Razek, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, China, India, Jeddah Ukraine, Russia, DUBAI, United States, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian, Copenhagen, Beijing, Moscow, Jeddah, Riyadh, SAUDI, Saudi, Turkey, Middle East, Washington, Warsaw, Maha, Dubai, New Delhi

☆ OPEC+ ministers keep oil output policy unchanged - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The OPEC logo pictured ahead of an informal meeting between members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Algiers, Algeria, September 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina//File PhotoLONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A panel meeting of the top ministers of OPEC+ has kept oil output policy unchanged on Friday, two OPEC+ sources said. The panel, called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, includes ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+. "Nothing new," one of the sources said. Reporting by Maha El Dahan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Olesya Astakhova and Alex Lawler, editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ramzi Boudina, Maha El Dahan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Olesya Astakhova, Alex Lawler, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, REUTERS, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Algiers, Algeria, Russia, OPEC

REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File PhotoCompanies Kyndryl Holdings Inc FollowDUBAI/LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - An OPEC+ ministerial panel which met on Friday made no changes to the group's current oil output policy after a Saudi decision to extend its voluntary production cut into September helped oil prices rally further. Oil prices rose more than 14% in July compared with June, the biggest monthly percentage increase since January last year, as tighter supply and rising demand outweighed concern that interest rate hikes and stubborn inflation could hit economic growth. "The committee will continue to closely assess market conditions," an OPEC statement issued after the online meeting said, adding that the panel urged members to achieve full compliance with output cut pledges. Oil prices on Friday traded at nearly $86 a barrel, close to their highest since mid-April. Russia will also cut oil exports by 300,000 bpd in September, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said shortly after the Saudi announcement.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Alexander Novak, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El, Lamine Chikli, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Kyndryl Holdings, DUBAI, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi, Reuters, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, LONDON, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, London, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Olesya, Moscow, Algiers

REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File PhotoCompanies Kyndryl Holdings Inc FollowLONDON/DUBAI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - An OPEC+ ministerial panel which meets on Friday is unlikely to tweak the group's current oil output policy, five OPEC+ sources told Reuters, after a Saudi decision to extend its voluntary cut into September helped oil prices rally further. The panel, called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, can call for a full meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, if warranted. Oil prices rose more than 14% in July compared with June, the biggest monthly percentage increase since January last year, as tighter supply and rising demand outweighed concern that interest rate hikes and stubborn inflation could hit economic growth. Oil prices on Friday traded at nearly $86 a barrel, close to their highest since mid-April. Russia will also cut oil exports by 300,000 bpd in September, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said shortly after the Saudi announcement.

Persons: Alexander Manzyuk, Alexander Novak, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El, Lamine Chikli, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Kyndryl Holdings, Organization of, Petroleum, Saudi, Reuters, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, DUBAI, OPEC, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, London, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Olesya, Moscow, Algiers

General view of Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery and oil terminal in Saudi Arabia May 21, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File PhotoSummary Saudi Arabia flags possibility of 'deepening' cut in the futureRussia announces 300,000 bpd export cut in Sept.OPEC+ panel to meet FridayDUBAI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will extend a voluntary oil output cut of one million barrels per day for another month to include September, it said on Thursday, adding it could be extended beyond that or deepened. The cut may be "extended, or extended and deepened", he added, flagging the possibility of further market tightening. Russia will also cut oil exports by 300,000 bpd in September, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said shortly after the Saudi announcement. Oil rose on Thursday, rebounding from an earlier decline after the Saudi announcement, with Brent crude futures up 42 cents to $83.62 a barrel by 1328 GMT.

Persons: Ahmed Jadallah, Alexander Novak, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Ahmed Elimam, El, Alex Lawler, Jane Merriman, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Friday DUBAI, OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Ministerial, Brent, Saudi Energy, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Russia, OPEC, Vienna, Riyadh, El Dahan, Dubai, London

SINGAPORE/LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - Thailand's largest energy company, state-controlled PTT (PTT.BK), is in advanced talks with Qatar for a 15-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal, four trading sources told Reuters. The Gulf energy giant has been in negotiations with several other Asian buyers this year and has so far signed three LNG supply deals with Asian buyers, with more expected later this year. PTT also signed a nine-year deal with Oman LNG at the start of the year, which will see it receive 800,000 tons of LNG per year beginning 2026. Thailand, a net oil and gas importer, needs to increase imports of LNG to offset a steep production fall at its gas fields. So far, the country has imported around 6 million tons of LNG this year versus 8.7 million tons in 2022, according to data firm Kpler.

Persons: Maha El, Mark Potter Organizations: Qatar, Reuters, PTT, LNG, Oman LNG, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, LONDON, Qatar, Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Oman, Thailand, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Chayut, Bangkok

☆ Explainer: Why are OPEC+ supply cuts failing to boost oil prices?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Members Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, deepened oil supply cuts on Monday in an effort to send prices higher. Here are the main reasons why OPEC+ output cuts are failing to significantly lift oil prices:CONCERNS ABOUT WEAK DEMANDData from China has sparked fears that the economic recovery from coronavirus lockdowns in the world's second-largest oil consumer is losing steam. The Energy Information Administration projects U.S. crude oil production will climb by 720,000 bpd to 12.61 million bpd this year, above a prior forecast increase of 640,000 bpd. This compares with around 10 million bpd as recently as 2018. LESS BULLISHIn 2020, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman warned traders against betting heavily in the oil market, saying those who gamble on the oil price would be "ouching like hell".

Persons: Brent, Carsten Fritsch, Tamas Varga, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, pare, Ole Hansen, Maha El Dahan, Ahmad Ghaddar, Mark Potter Organizations: of, Petroleum, Eurasia Group, U.S . Federal Reserve, International Energy Agency, OPEC, Energy Information Administration, Saudi Energy, Saxo Bank, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, LONDON, OPEC, Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, U.S, Eurasia, WTI

REUTERS/Ramzi Boudina/File PhotoCompanies United States of America FollowDUBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's biggest oil exporters, deepened oil cuts on Monday, sending prices higher despite concerns over a global economic slowdown and possible further interest rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The cuts amount to 1.5% of global supply and bring the total pledged by OPEC+ to 5.16 million bpd. OPEC+ already has in place cuts of 3.66 million bpd, amounting to 3.6% of global demand, including 2 million bpd agreed last year and voluntary cuts of 1.66 million bpd agreed in April and extended to December 2024. Oil prices rose on news of the cuts, with Brent up 89 cents to $76.30 a barrel by 0950 GMT. Russia, the world's second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, has already pledged to reduce its output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.5 million bpd from March until year-end.

Persons: Ramzi Boudina, Alexander Novak, Brent, Maha El Dahan, Jana Choukeir, Jason Neely, David Evans Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, REUTERS, Companies, U.S . Federal Reserve, OPEC, Ministry of Energy, Thomson Locations: OPEC, Algiers, Algeria, States, America, DUBAI, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Saudi, Moscow

DOHA, June 20 (Reuters) - Qatar is set to secure its second large gas supply deal with a Chinese state-controlled company in less than a year, sources familiar with the deal told Reuters on Tuesday. CNPC also will take an equity stake in the eastern expansion of Qatar's North Field liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, the sources said. In an identical deal, QatarEnergy sealed a 27-year supply agreement with China's Sinopec in November for 4 million tons a year. The state-owned Chinese gas giant also took an equity stake equivalent to 5% of one LNG train of 8 million tons a year capacity. Tuesday's deal, first reported by the Financial Times, will be QatarEnergy's third deal to supply LNG from the expansion to an Asian buyer.

Persons: CNPC, QatarEnergy, China's Sinopec, Saad, QatarEnergy didn't, Andrew Mills, Maha El, Kanjyik Ghosh, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: DOHA, Reuters, China National Petroleum Corporation, Financial Times, LNG, Thomson Locations: Qatar, China, Arab, Asia, Ukraine, Europe, finalising, QatarEnergy, United States, Australia, Doha, Maha, Maha El Dahan, Dubai, Bengaluru

☆ OPEC+ working against 'uncertainities and sentiment,' Saudi energy minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

RIYADH, June 11 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Sunday that the latest OPEC+ agreement involved comprehensive reform, but that the alliance was also working against "uncertainities and sentiment" within the market. "That is why we had this agreement," Prince Abdulaziz said at the Arab-China business conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh, when asked what was necessary to achieve market stability. "But also we are working against something called uncertainties and sentiments," he said. (This story has been refiled to fix the spelling of the minister's name in paragraph 1)Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Maha El Dahan; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Aziz El Yaakoubi, El, Alex Richardson Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Energy, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, China, Saudi, Riyadh

He announced the output cut after the meeting, calling it a "Saudi lollipop". Saudi Arabia said it would cut output in July by 10% or 1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 9 million bpd and may extend cuts further if needed. As well as the Saudi cut, OPEC+ lowered its collective production target for 2024 and the nine participating countries extended the April voluntary cuts to the end of 2024. Nonetheless, all those producers stand to benefit if they can keep output the same or pump a bit more, especially if the Saudi cut boosts prices. "Saudi cuts are playing second fiddle to worries about the state of the global economy," said Stephen Brennock of oil broker PVM, although he added the Saudi cut could widen a supply deficit in July.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Abu, Al Arabiya, Brent, Stephen Brennock, Rowena Edwards, Maha El, Simon Webb, David Evans Organizations: Saudi, Saudi Energy, Organization of, Petroleum, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Energy Ministry, OPEC's, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Vienna, OPEC, Russia, Abu Dhabi, OPEC's Vienna, UAE, Nigeria, Angola, Friday's

[1/6] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on, as he attends a joint press conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2023. "And we’re also collaborating with countries in the region to widen and deepen the normalisation of relations with Israel." Saudi Arabia went the other way in April in restoring ties with Iran, its key regional rival and Israel's arch-enemy, in a Chinese-brokered deal. Other rows have simmered over the Saudi intervention in Yemen's devastating conflict, China ties and oil prices. Saudi Arabia and other OPEC states say the organisation is not politicised and only seeks to stabilise energy markets.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Faisal Bin Farhan, Ahmed Yosri, Jake Sullivan, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Karim Benzema, Blinken, we’re, Aziz Alghashian, Joe Biden's, Alghashian, Biden, Jamal Khashoggi, Blinken's, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Vladimir Putin, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Humeyra Pamuk, Maha El, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Saudi Foreign, Intercontinental, REUTERS, U.S, Saudi, White House, Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council, Al, Blinken, MbS, GCC, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Israel RIYADH, U.S, Iran, Washington's, Al, French, Jeddah, Al Ittihad, Yemen, Sudan, Israel, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Gulf, Israeli, Russia, China, Istanbul, OPEC, Ukraine

[1/5] Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jeddah in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 7, 2023. Amer Hilabi/Pool via REUTERSJEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, June 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had an "open, candid" conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the early hours of Wednesday about a wide range of bilateral issues, a U.S. official said. Blinken and the crown prince, known as MbS, met for an hour and forty minutes, a U.S. official said, covering topics including Israel, the conflict in Yemen, unrest in Sudan as well as human rights. In April, Saudi Arabia restored ties with Iran, a regional rival and Israel's arch-foe. MbS and Blinken also discussed Yemen and potential ways to resolve remaining issues, while Blinken thanked the crown prince for the kingdom's role in pushing for a ceasefire in Sudan and helping evacuate U.S. citizens.

Persons: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Antony Blinken, Amer Hilabi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed, Blinken's, Donald Trump, Jonathan Fulton, Fulton, Blinken, Humeyra Pamuk, Aziz El Yaakoubi, El, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Potter Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Crown, REUTERS, Saudi Crown, U.S, MbS, United, New York Times, Saudi, However U.S, Atlantic Council, Washington, ., normalising Saudi, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, REUTERS JEDDAH, Iran, Washington, Riyadh, United States, Arabia, OPEC, Israel, Yemen, Sudan, East, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, However, China, Arab, Beijing, Saudi

☆ Analysis: Saudi Arabia's 'icing on the cake' oil cut could feed US producers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Dmitry Zhdannikov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

With the new Saudi reduction, the group has agreed to take some 4.6 million bpd off the market in July, equivalent to 4.6% of global demand of 100 million bpd. OPEC+ also agreed on Sunday to extend the group's existing supply cuts of 3.66 million bpd into 2024. In response, oil prices rose nearly $2 a barrel early on Monday to $78 per barrel . "This market needs stabilisation," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Sunday, calling his surprise decision to deepen Saudi production cuts "the icing on the cake" for the deal. So far this year, a weakening global economy, concern about the U.S. banking crisis, and a slow Chinese recovery from COVID-19 restrictions have capped oil prices.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Natasha Kaneva, Morgan, Tamas Varga, Jorge Leon, Sunday's, JPM, Kaneva, Alex Lawler, Ahmad Ghaddar, el, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Simon Webb, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Saudi Energy, OPEC, White, International Energy Agency, Rystad Energy, United, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Riyadh, United States, States, COVID, Angola, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates

Saudi's energy ministry said the country's output would drop to 9 million barrels per day (bpd) in July from around 10 million bpd in May, the biggest reduction in years. "This is a Saudi lollipop," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz told a news conference. EXTENSION TO END OF 2024OPEC+ has in place cuts of 3.66 million bpd, amounting to 3.6% of global demand, including 2 million bpd agreed last year and voluntary cuts of 1.66 million bpd agreed in April. In addition to extending the existing OPEC+ cuts of 3.66 million bpd, the group also agreed on Sunday to reduce overall production targets from January 2024 by a further 1.4 million bpd versus current targets to a combined of 40.46 million bpd. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates was allowed to raise output targets by around 0.2 million bpd to 3.22 million bpd.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz, Brent, Amrita Sen, Gary Ross, Giovanni Staunovo, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El Dahan, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, David Holmes, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Saudi, UAE, Saudi Energy, Organization of, Petroleum, Brent, OPEC, Analysts, Energy, Veteran OPEC, Black Gold, UBS, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Russian, Angolan, VIENNA, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Saudi, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Angola, United Arab Emirates

Four sources familiar with OPEC+ discussions have told Reuters that additional production cuts were being discussed among options for Sunday's session. Three out of four sources said cuts could amount to 1 million bpd on top of existing cuts of 2 million bpd and voluntary cuts of 1.6 million bpd, announced in a surprise move in April and which took effect in May. If approved, the new cut would take the total volume of reductions to 4.66 million bpd, or around 4.5% of global demand. Typically, production cuts take effect the month after they are agreed but ministers could also agree a later implementation. Three OPEC+ sources also said the group will address the issue of baselines for 2023 and 2024, from which each member performs cuts.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz, Sunday's, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El Dahan, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Hugh Lawson, Emelia Organizations: OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, Brent, Saudi Arabia's Energy, Thomson Locations: VIENNA, Nigeria, Angola, OPEC, Russia, West, UAE, Ukraine, China, India

Three OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Friday cuts were being discussed among options for Sunday's session, when OPEC+ ministers gather at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) in Vienna. The sources said cuts could amount to 1 million bpd on top of existing cuts of 2 million bpd and voluntary cuts of 1.6 million bpd, announced in a surprise move in April and which took effect in May. If approved, this would take the total volume of reductions to 4.66 million bpd, or around 4.5% of global demand. The International Energy Agency expects global oil demand to rise further in the second half of 2023, potentially boosting oil prices. "There is simply too much supply," the JPMorgan analysts said in a note, noting extra cuts could amount to around 1 million bpd.

Persons: Leonhard, Russia's Novak, Hayan Abdel, Ghani, Suhail Al Mazroui, Prince Abdulaziz, Alexander Novak, Novak, Edward Moya, OANDA, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El Dahan, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, David Holmes Organizations: Austrian, REUTERS, LONDON, OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, UAE's Energy, Brent, Saudi Arabia's Energy, International Energy Agency, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, Saudi, OPEC, Russia, Ukraine, China, India, Russian

Three OPEC+ sources told Reuters on Friday that cuts were being discussed among options for Sunday's session. The three sources said cuts could amount to 1 million bpd on top of existing cuts of 2 million bpd and voluntary cuts of 1.6 million bpd, announced in a surprise move in April and which took effect in May. If approved, this would take the total volume of reductions to 4.66 million bpd, or around 4.5% of global demand. Typically production cuts take effect the month after they are agreed, but ministers could also agree a later implementation. Two OPEC sources said the ministers could also discuss new production baselines from which each member performs cuts.

Persons: Leonhard, Hayan Abdel, Ghani, Suhail Al Mazroui, Prince Abdulaziz, Ahmad Ghaddar, Alex Lawler, Maha El Dahan, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, David Holmes, Frances Kerry, Christina Fincher Organizations: Austrian, REUTERS, OPEC, Organization of, Petroleum, Reuters, UAE's Energy, Brent, Saudi Arabia's Energy, International Energy Agency, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Vienna, Austria, Saudi, OPEC, VIENNA, Russia, Ukraine, China, India, West, Nigeria, Angola, UAE

☆ OPEC denies media access to Reuters, Bloomberg, WSJ for weekend policy meets
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Leonhard FoegerVIENNA, June 2 (Reuters) - OPEC has denied media access to reporters from Reuters, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal to report on oil policy meetings in Vienna this weekend, reporters, Bloomberg and people familiar with the matter said on Friday. OPEC staff declined on Friday to give media accreditation to Reuters journalists to cover the event. The staff handling media accreditation at one of Vienna's luxury hotels said they could not issue accreditation without an invite. A Bloomberg spokesperson confirmed on Friday the company has not been given accreditation to cover the OPEC meeting. Reporters from the three outlets, many of whom have been covering OPEC meetings for years, did not receive invitations from OPEC ahead of the meeting.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger VIENNA, Platts, Alex Lawler, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Ahmad Ghaddar, Julia Payne, Maha El, Simon Webb, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Organization of, Petroleum, REUTERS, OPEC, Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, of, Thomson Reuters Corp, Thomson, Street, Argus Locations: Vienna, Austria, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia

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