OPEC+ agrees to hike oil output, warns of slow recovery after attacks | OPEC News | Al Jazeera

## Summary
Listen Listen (3 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share2 Share facebook twitter whatsapp copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info People walk in front of oil barrels at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026 in Erbil, Iraq [File: Sedat Suna/Getty Images] By Edna Mohamed and Reuters Published On 5 Apr 2026 5 Apr 2026 The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to increase oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a rise that is largely symbolic as some of its key members are unable to raise production due to the US-Israeli war on Iran . The war has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important oil route – since the end of ⁠February and cut exports from OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Iraq. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 How will Pakistan deal with the fallout from Iran war? list 2 of 3 Iran says Iraqi ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as transits tick up list 3 of 3 Iran war: What is happening on day 37 of US-Israeli attacks? end of list In a statement on Sunday, eight members of OPEC+, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, agreed to increase May quotas during a virtual meeting. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability,” the statement read. “The eight countries also expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby affecting overall supply availability,” it added. But amid the war, oil supply disruption on record is estimated to have removed as much as 12 to 15 million bpd or up to 15 percent of global supply. (Al Jazeera) With the strait still closed, Iran has allowed some countries in the region to use the waterway.

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People walk in front of oil barrels at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026 in Erbil, Iraq [File: Sedat Suna/Getty Images]
By
Edna Mohamed
and
Reuters
Published On 5 Apr 2026
5 Apr 2026
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to increase oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a rise that is largely symbolic as some of its key members are unable to raise production due to the
US-Israeli war on Iran
.
The war has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important oil route – since the end of ⁠February and cut exports from OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Iraq.
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items
list 1 of 3
How will Pakistan deal with the fallout from Iran war?
list 2 of 3
Iran says Iraqi ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as transits tick up
list 3 of 3
Iran war: What is happening on day 37 of US-Israeli attacks?
end of list
In a statement on Sunday, eight members of OPEC+, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, agreed to increase May quotas during a virtual meeting.
“The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability,” the statement read.
“The eight countries also expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby affecting overall supply availability,” it added.
While the quota increase represents less than two percent of the supply disrupted by the closure of the strait, OPEC+ sources told the Reuters news agency that the pledge had signalled readiness to raise output once the waterway reopens.
Crude prices have surged to a four-year high amid the war, close to $120 a barrel, leading to higher prices for transport fuels.
On Thursday, JPMorgan said oil prices could spike above $150, an all-time high, if oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted into mid-May.
May’s increase is the same as the eight members had agreed on for April at their last meeting on March 1. But amid the war, oil supply disruption on record is estimated to have removed as much as 12 to 15 million bpd or up to 15 percent of global supply.
(Al Jazeera)
With the strait still closed, Iran has allowed some countries in the region to use the waterway.
Advertisement
Iran has said Iraq was
exempt
from any transit restrictions through the strait, with shipping data on Sunday showing a tanker loaded with Iraqi crude passing through the waterway.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry
announced on Sunday that deputy foreign minister-level talks were being held with Iran to discuss ⁠⁠options to ensure the smooth transit of vessels through the Strait ‌‌of Hormuz.
US President
Donald Trump
threatened to escalate attacks and target Iranian civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Monday.

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- The war has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most important oil route – since the end of ⁠February and cut exports from OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait and Iraq.

### Areas for Consideration
- Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 How will Pakistan deal with the fallout from Iran war? list 2 of 3 Iran says Iraqi ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as transits tick up list 3 of 3 Iran war: What is happening on day 37 of US-Israeli attacks? end of list In a statement on Sunday, eight members of OPEC+, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, agreed to increase May quotas during a virtual meeting. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability,” the statement read. “The eight countries also expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby affecting overall supply availability,” it added.

### Implications
- Listen Listen (3 mins) Save Click here to share on social media share2 Share facebook twitter whatsapp copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info People walk in front of oil barrels at a market for fuel oil and automotive fuel on March 17, 2026 in Erbil, Iraq [File: Sedat Suna/Getty Images] By Edna Mohamed and Reuters Published On 5 Apr 2026 5 Apr 2026 The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has agreed to increase oil output quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for May, a rise that is largely symbolic as some of its key members are unable to raise production due to the US-Israeli war on Iran .
- Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 How will Pakistan deal with the fallout from Iran war? list 2 of 3 Iran says Iraqi ships can pass Strait of Hormuz as transits tick up list 3 of 3 Iran war: What is happening on day 37 of US-Israeli attacks? end of list In a statement on Sunday, eight members of OPEC+, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman, agreed to increase May quotas during a virtual meeting. “The countries will continue to closely monitor and assess market conditions, and in their continuous efforts to support market stability,” the statement read. “The eight countries also expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby affecting overall supply availability,” it added.
- On Thursday, JPMorgan said oil prices could spike above $150, an all-time high, if oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted into mid-May.
- May’s increase is the same as the eight members had agreed on for April at their last meeting on March 1.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers strait, oil, iran topics. Notable strengths include discussion of strait. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 539.