Saudi Arabia’s crude production rose to 8.99m bpd in April: JODI

Saudi Arabia’s crude production increased by 13,000 barrels per day in April to reach 8.99 million, according to an analysis from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative.

The data indicated that exports over the same month saw a decline despite this growth, dipping by 445,000 bpd to 6 million compared to March.

The Kingdom’s direct burn of crude oil, which involves using oil without substantial refining processes, increased by 93,000 bpd in April compared to the previous month – an 11 percent year-on-year growth.

The decline in the Kingdom’s crude exports and a marginal rise in production can be attributed to the voluntary cuts adopted by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+.

In March, Saudi Arabia announced the extension of its 1 million bpd cut, initially implemented in July 2023, until the end of 2024.

Earlier this month, the Kingdom’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said Saudi Arabia will increase its oil production capacity from 2025 to 2027 before returning to a production level of 12.3 million bpd in 2028.

“In 2025, we will have an incremental increase. We will have a bigger incremental increase in 2026 and 2027. And then we will go back to our 12.3 million bpd production in 2028,” said the energy minister.

According to JODI Data, total oil demand in India, one of the largest crude consumers in Asia, slipped by 156,000 bpd in April compared to March.

Similarly, the Asian nation’s total product exports also edged down by 85,000 bpd in April.

On the other hand, India’s overall crude imports rose by 510,000 bpd, marking an 8.1 percent year-on-year increase.

Earlier this month, OPEC said that oil demand globally would rise by 2.25 million bpd in 2024, driven by growth in markets such as China, India, the Middle East and Latin America.

On June 6, speaking at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Haitham Al-Ghais, secretary-general of OPEC, said that the world will witness continued oil demand growth in the coming years.

“Last year, OPEC’s forecast for oil demand was the best. And all those who criticized OPEC’s forecast kept adjusting their number throughout the year,” said Al-Ghais.

However, the International Energy Agency forecast oil demand growth to slow as the world continues its energy transition journey, although it noted that there would be growth of 1 million bpd in 2024.