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Saudi Arabia to abandon $100 unrefined target to take back market share, FT reports

Saudi Arabia is preparing to desert its unofficial cost target of $100 a barrel for crude as it prepares to increase output, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, pointing out individuals familiar with the matter.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, de facto led by Riyadh, along with allies including Russia - together referred to as OPEC+ - have been cutting oil output to assistance costs.

Earlier this month, OPEC+ agreed to postpone a prepared oil output boost for October and November after crude prices struck their lowest in nine months, stating it might even more pause or reverse the walkings if required.

The Financial Times reported that the group is dedicated to increasing production as planned on Dec. 1, even if that suggests a. longer period of low oil costs.

Worldwide crude criteria Brent was down about 2% to. $ 71.97 at 0655 GMT following the report.

The Saudi government interactions office did not. right away respond to a request for remark.

Saudi Arabia has actually decided that it is unwilling to continue to. cede market share to other oil manufacturers and believes it has. enough funding choices, including foreign reserves and financial obligation, to. withstand a period of lower crude rates, the feet stated.

The kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, has actually shouldered a. large share of OPEC+ output cuts, reducing its own output by. about 2 million barrels daily (bpd) considering that late 2022.

OPEC+ members are presently cutting output by a total of. 5.86 million bpd, equivalent to about 5.7% of worldwide oil need.

The kingdom has, nevertheless, in the past increased production. to safeguard its market share.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia and Russia participated in a rate war,. both flooding world markets with oil after Moscow refused to. support OPEC's decision to make deeper output cuts to handle. the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Riyadh in 2014 blocked calls by some OPEC members to make. output cuts to halt a slide in oil rates, setting the stage for. a battle for market share in between OPEC and non-OPEC producers. in the middle of a boom in U.S. shale production.

(source: Reuters)