Russia’s Oil Output Surge Strains OPEC+ Compliance Amid Geopolitical Pressures
Russia boosted September oil production by 193,000 barrels per day—the largest monthly increase since April—yet still fell 47,000 barrels short of its revised OPEC+ target. The Kremlin's output now stands at 9.368 million barrels daily, exposing cracks in its alliance compliance as drone attacks and logistical bottlenecks force a pivot to crude exports.
Ukrainian strikes have crippled refining capacity, flooding ports with unprocessed barrels. Storage terminals reportedly NEAR capacity as Russia withholds output data, a black box tactic employed since Western sanctions began. The cartel watches uneasily as Moscow's balancing act between quotas and geopolitical realities unravels.