Jan 31, 2026
According to a report from Reuters, OPEC+ is likely to keep its pause on oil output increases for March when it meets on Sunday, five delegates said. The meeting of eight OPEC+ members, which pump about half the world’s oil, comes as Brent crude has risen to almost $72 a barrel, its highest since August.
The eight producers – Saudi Arabia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman – raised production quotas by about 2.9 million barrels per day from April through December 2025, roughly 3% of global demand. They then froze further planned increases for January through March 2026 because of seasonally weaker consumption.
Three of the five OPEC+ delegates, who all asked not to be identified, said Sunday’s meeting was unlikely to take any decisions beyond March. OPEC and authorities in Saudi Arabia and Russia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Also on Sunday, a separate OPEC+ panel called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee is scheduled to meet, delegates said. The JMMC does not have decision-making authority on production policy.
Crude has climbed above $70 a barrel on concern the U.S. could launch a military strike on OPEC member Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear programme, threatening military action and deploying a U.S. naval group to the region. Washington has imposed extensive sanctions on Tehran to choke off its oil revenue.
President Trump is weighing targeted strikes on security officials and senior figures to stir unrest and potentially weaken the ruling system, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing U.S. sources.
Oil prices have also been supported by supply losses in Kazakhstan, where the oil sector has suffered a series of disruptions in recent months. Kazakhstan said on Wednesday it was restarting the huge Tengiz oilfield in stages.
This report provides a comprehensive view of the global crude oil industry, tracking demand, supply, and trade flows across the worldwide value chain. It explains how demand across key channels and end-use segments shapes consumption patterns, while also mapping the role of input availability, production efficiency, and regulatory standards on supply.
Beyond headline metrics, the study benchmarks prices, margins, and trade routes so you can see where value is created and how it moves between exporters and importers worldwide. The analysis is designed to support strategic planning, market entry, portfolio prioritization, and risk management in the global crude oil landscape.
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Key findings
Global demand is shaped by both household and industrial usage, with trade flows linking cost-competitive producers to import-reliant markets.
Pricing dynamics reflect unit values, freight costs, exchange rates, and regulatory shifts that affect sourcing decisions.
Supply depends on input availability and production efficiency, creating distinct cost curves across regions.
Market concentration varies by country, creating different competitive landscapes and entry barriers.
The 2035 outlook highlights where capacity investment and demand growth are most aligned globally.
Report scope
The report combines market sizing with trade intelligence and price analytics. It covers both historical performance and the forward outlook to 2035, allowing you to compare cycles, structural shifts, and policy impacts across countries and regions.
Market size and growth in value and volume terms
Consumption structure by end-use segments and regions
Production capacity, output, and cost dynamics
Global trade flows, exporters, importers, and balances
Price benchmarks, unit values, and margin signals
Competitive context and market entry conditions
Product coverageCountry coverageCountry profiles and benchmarks
For the global report, country profiles provide a consistent view of market size, trade balance, prices, and per-capita indicators. The profiles highlight the largest consuming and producing markets and allow direct benchmarking across peers.
Methodology
The analysis is built on a multi-source framework that combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, and expert validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to ensure consistency across time series.
International trade data (exports, imports, and mirror statistics)
National production and consumption statistics
Company-level information from financial filings and public releases
Price series and unit value benchmarks
Analyst review, outlier checks, and time-series validation
All data are normalized to a common product definition and mapped to a consistent set of codes. This ensures that comparisons across time are aligned and actionable.
Forecasts to 2035
The forecast horizon extends to 2035 and is based on a structured model that links crude oil demand and supply to macroeconomic indicators, trade patterns, and sector-specific drivers. The model captures both cyclical and structural factors and reflects known policy and technology shifts.
Historical baseline: 2012-2025
Forecast horizon: 2026-2035
Scenario-based sensitivity to income growth, substitution, and regulation
Capacity and investment outlook for major producing countries
Each country projection is built from its own historical pattern and the regional context, allowing the report to show where growth is concentrated and where risks are elevated.
Price analysis and trade dynamics
Prices are analyzed in detail, including export and import unit values, regional spreads, and changes in trade costs. The report highlights how seasonality, freight rates, exchange rates, and supply disruptions influence pricing and margins.
Price benchmarks by country and sub-region
Export and import unit value trends
Seasonality and calendar effects in trade flows
Price outlook to 2035 under baseline assumptions
Profiles of market participants
Key producers, exporters, and distributors are profiled with a focus on their operational scale, geographic footprint, product mix, and market positioning. This helps identify competitive pressure points, partnership opportunities, and routes to differentiation.
Business focus and production capabilities
Geographic reach and distribution networks
Cost structure and pricing strategy indicators
Compliance, certification, and sustainability context
How to use this report
Quantify global demand and identify the most attractive markets
Evaluate export opportunities and prioritize target countries
Track price dynamics and protect margins
Benchmark performance against major competitors
Build evidence-based forecasts for investment decisions
This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, wholesalers, investors, and advisors who need a clear, data-driven picture of global crude oil dynamics.
FAQ
What is included in the global crude oil market?
The market size aggregates consumption and trade data at country and regional levels, presented in both value and volume terms.
How are the forecasts to 2035 built?
The projections combine historical trends with macroeconomic indicators, trade dynamics, and sector-specific drivers.
Does the report cover prices and margins?
Yes, it includes export and import unit values, regional spreads, and a pricing outlook to 2035.
Which countries are profiled in detail?
The report provides profiles for the largest consuming and producing countries, enabling benchmarking across peers.
Can this report support market entry decisions?
Yes, it highlights demand hotspots, trade routes, pricing trends, and competitive context.