Oil Prices Rise as OPEC+ Holds Firm on Output Through Q1 2026

Oil prices rebounded in early Asian trade on Monday following the latest OPEC+ meeting, as traders responded to the producer group’s decision to hold output steady through the first quarter of 2026.

At the time of writing, West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $59.32, up 1.32%, while Brent crude had climbed to $63.16, up 1.25%.

The bounce reflects relief over the group’s cautious stance, with OPEC+ reaffirming its plan to maintain current production levels rather than raise output further. The move had been expected and is seen as an attempt to guard against a supply glut.

The decision comes amid growing concerns that the global oil market remains oversupplied, with multiple market participants and analysts expecting a glut in 2026. The group is still holding some 3.24 million barrels per day of production offline, with 1.24 million bpd of that being the voluntary cuts that the group has been unwinding this year.

That said, prices remain far below earlier 2025 levels, as a global surplus looms driven by rising production from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers, as well as weak demand growth.

Despite today’s uptick, fundamental headwinds are still in place. Oversupply concerns, compounded by uncertainty over demand and potential return of sanctioned barrels to the market, are likely to keep a lid on sustained price rallies in the near term.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com

 

  • Related Posts

    Iran Warns Gulf Energy Assets Could Burn if Its Oil Facilities Are Targeted

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Thursday that it could ignite a wider energy crisis across the Middle East if Iran’s own oil and gas infrastructure comes under attack.…

    DOE Unveils $1.9 Billion Electric Grid Upgrade Push

    The U.S. Department of Energy is launching a $1.9 billion funding effort aimed at rapidly expanding the capacity of the nation’s power grid by upgrading existing transmission lines. This is…

    Have You Seen?

    SIAD to build €18m compressor production facility in Italy

    • March 13, 2026
    SIAD to build €18m compressor production facility in Italy

    DOE Unveils $1.9 Billion Electric Grid Upgrade Push

    • March 13, 2026
    DOE Unveils $1.9 Billion Electric Grid Upgrade Push

    Iran Warns Gulf Energy Assets Could Burn if Its Oil Facilities Are Targeted

    • March 13, 2026
    Iran Warns Gulf Energy Assets Could Burn if Its Oil Facilities Are Targeted

    UAE Cuts Crude Shipments to Partners

    • March 13, 2026
    UAE Cuts Crude Shipments to Partners

    Trump Weighs Rare Jones Act Waiver as War Drives Fuel Prices Higher

    • March 13, 2026
    Trump Weighs Rare Jones Act Waiver as War Drives Fuel Prices Higher

    Oil Settles Up 9% as Iran Vows to Keep Strait of Hormuz Closed

    • March 13, 2026
    Oil Settles Up 9% as Iran Vows to Keep Strait of Hormuz Closed

    Oil Unlikely to Hit $200 a Barrel, US Energy Chief Says

    • March 12, 2026
    Oil Unlikely to Hit $200 a Barrel, US Energy Chief Says

    How Have US Presidents Tapped Strategic Petroleum Reserves During War?

    • March 12, 2026
    How Have US Presidents Tapped Strategic Petroleum Reserves During War?

    Iran War is One ‘TACO’ Too Far: McGeever

    • March 12, 2026
    Iran War is One ‘TACO’ Too Far: McGeever

    US Natgas Prices at Waha Hub in Texas Remain Negative for Record 25th Day

    • March 12, 2026
    US Natgas Prices at Waha Hub in Texas Remain Negative for Record 25th Day