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Russia to cut oil output by around 5% in March
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Brent up 2.5% after news
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Russia held no consultations on cuts - Novak
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West has introduced price caps on Russian oil over Ukraine
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Russia ran budget deficit of $25 billion in January
(Adds comments from Novak on absence of formal consultations,
OPEC+ no plans to raise output, paragraphs 6-7)
By Vladimir Soldatkin and Olesya Astakhova
MOSCOW, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Russia will cut oil
production by 500,000 barrels per day, or around 5% of output , in March, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said
on Friday, after the West imposed price caps on Russian oil and
oil products.
The price of Brent crude rose on the news of the
output cut from Russia, the world's second-largest oil exporter
after Saudi Arabia, increasing by more than 2.5% on the day to
$86.6 per barrel. "As of today, we are fully selling the entire volume of oil
produced, however, as stated earlier, we will not sell oil to
those who directly or indirectly adhere to the principles of the
'price cap'," Novak said in a statement.
"In this regard, Russia will voluntarily reduce production
by 500,000 barrels per day in March. This will contribute to the
restoration of market relations."
The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia had held talks
with some members of the OPEC+ producers group regarding its
decision to cut output.
Novak said later that Russia had not held any formal
consultations as the cuts were voluntary.
Two OPEC+ delegates told Reuters that OPEC+ plans no action after Russia announced oil output cuts.
As Russia navigates the maze of restrictions which the West has imposed in an attempt to choke off its revenue from oil, the production cut indicates that the price cap on Russian oil products has had some impact. The G7, the European Union and Australia agreed to ban the use of Western-supplied maritime insurance, finance and brokering for seaborne Russian oil priced above $60 per barrel from Dec. 5 as part of Western sanctions on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. The EU also imposed a ban on purchases of Russian oil products and set price caps from Feb. 5. In turn, Russia has banned deals involving any application of the price cap mechanisms. OUTPUT CUT
The last big fall in Russian oil output was in April when it collapsed by nearly 9% following the introduction of Western sanctions over Ukraine. Since then, Russia has managed to set up logistic chains for its oil sales, mostly in Asia. Russia's decision to cut oil production was announced only nine days after an OPEC+ panel, in which Russia is a member, endorsed the oil producer group's current output policy, leaving production cuts agreed last year in place. "Russia believes that the 'price cap' mechanism in the sale of Russian oil and oil products is an interference in market relations and a continuation of the destructive energy policy of the countries of the collective West," Novak said. His spokesperson said later that the cuts will relate to crude oil only, without gas condensate, a type of light oil. Russia's oil output last year defied numerous predictions of a decline, rising by 2% to 535 million tonnes (10.7 million barrels per day) thanks to a jump in sales to Asia, especially, to India and China. However, following a raft of new sanctions from the West, Russia is facing more challenges in selling oil, a key source of revenue for the state budget, which posted a $25 billion deficit in January. Lower export volumes shrank Russia's current account surplus by 58.2% to $8 billion in January, squeezing Russia's capital buffers at a time when Moscow is ramping up budget spending. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Olesya Astakhova in Moscow, additional reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Rowena Edwards in London; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Jason Neely)
@vsoldatkin;))