FRANKFURT – Oil prices jumped Monday after OPEC and allied oil producing countries stayed with their gradual approach to restoring output slashed during the pandemic, agreeing to add only 400,000 barrels per day in November.
The decision Monday by the Vienna-based oil cartel along with non-members including Russia tracks with its established schedule of adding back that amount of oil every month until deep cuts made in 2020 to support prices during the depth of the pandemic recession are restored next year.
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The situation has changed since then as the global economy recovers. The decision comes amid stronger demand for oil products like gasoline and jet fuel, as driving and flying pick up around the globe due to the easing of restrictions aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of that, unusually high prices for natural gas are pushing some electricity producers in Asia to switch from natural gas to oil-based products, helping support prices.
The price of a barrel of crude hit $78.38, the highest since 2014, then eased to trade 2% higher on the day at $77.87 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The Brent international benchmark was at $81.57, up 2.9%.
“Producing nations, and namely OPEC+, have to be careful not to allow prices to inflate too much, otherwise we may see an adverse reaction that could negatively impact post-pandemic economic growth,” said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy.
“Nevertheless, OPEC+ will surely keep on monitoring market developments and can amend policy going forward if needed," Tonhaugen said. OPEC+ scheduled its next meeting for Nov. 4.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan raised concerns about rising oil prices when he met officials in key OPEC member Saudi Arabia in talks last week that largely focused on the war in Yemen, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Sullivan and other members of his delegation reiterated the importance of creating conditions to support the global economic recovery caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Psaki added.
Psaki on Monday noted that White House officials have stayed in communication with OPEC members about prices and were looking for tools to address the issue as Brent crude topped $80 per barrel last month.
“We’re going to continue to use every tool at our disposal, even as we’re not a member of OPEC, to ensure we can keep gas prices down for the American public,” she said.
The price of crude makes up roughly half the cost of gasoline at the pump in the U.S. National average gasoline prices have been holding steady at around $3.20 per gallon in recent days, according to motoring club federation AAA. The average is 97 cents more than a year ago.
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Madhani contributed from Washington.