OPEC eyes oil output cuts as Trump calls for boost

OPEC members and other oil-producing countries mulled cuts in output yesterday to prop up plunging prices, defying repeated calls by US President Donald Trump that they keep the taps open. "We're looking for a sufficient cut to balance the market, equally distributed between countries," Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters ahead of an OPEC meeting in the Austrian capital.

Oil ministers from 20 or so countries are in Vienna for two days of meetings -- first, the 15 members of OPEC, then a wider group including countries outside the cartel -- to discuss how to counter the tumble in prices over the past two months.

The price of a barrel of Brent, the European benchmark, fell four percent to below $60 Thursday, hit by the Saudi comments which were taken on the markets to be very cautious and concerns over an economic slowdown.

On Wednesday, Trump took to Twitter to urge producers to keep pumping.

"Hopefully OPEC will be keeping oil flows as is, not restricted. The World does not want to see, or need, higher oil prices!" said Trump, who has repeatedly accused the cartel of keeping prices artificially high.

Saudi minister al-Kalih pointedly said Washington should back off.

"We don't need permission from anyone to cut," he said. The US "is not in a position to tell us what to do," he added.

At the end of 2016, OPEC's regular members joined forces with other countries -- most notably Russia -- to scale back output in a bid to reduce a glut that was weighing on prices.

The coordinated move -- which has since been extended -- stimulated a long rally in oil prices right up until October 2018.

Over the past two months, however, prices have plunged again.

In order to try and counter this, the so-called OPEC+ -- who together account for more than half of the world's oil output -- is discussing renewing the pact or perhaps cutting output still further.

All the signals are that more reductions in output are on the cards, despite the pressure from Trump, who argues that higher energy costs will choke off the economy.

"A million (barrels cut) would be ideal," the Saudi minister said. "Ideally, everyone should join equally. I think that's the fair and equitable solution."

OPEC eyes oil output cuts as Trump calls for boost

OPEC members and other oil-producing countries mulled cuts in output yesterday to prop up plunging prices, defying repeated calls by US President Donald Trump that they keep the taps open. Were looking for a sufficient cut to balance the market, equally distributed between countries, Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih told reporters ahead of an OPEC meeting in the Austrian capital. Oil ministers from 20 or so countries are in Vienna for two days of meetings -- first, the 15 members of OPEC, then a wider group including countries outside the cartel -- to discuss how to counter the tumble in prices over the past two months. The price of a barrel of Brent, the European benchmark, fell four percent to below $60 Thursday, hit by the Saudi comments which were taken on the markets to be very cautious and concerns over an economic slowdown. On Wednesday, Trump took to Twitter to urge producers to keep pumping. Hopefully OPEC will be keeping oil flows as is, not restricted. The World does not want to see, or need, higher oil prices! said Trump, who has repeatedly accused the cartel of keeping prices artificially high. Saudi minister al-Kalih pointedly said Washington should back off. We dont need permission from anyone to cut, he said. The US is not in a position to tell us what to do, he added. At the end of 2016, OPECs regular members joined forces with other countries -- most notably Russia -- to scale back output in a bid to reduce a glut that was weighing on prices. The coordinated move -- which has since been extended -- stimulated a long rally in oil prices right up until October 2018. Over the past two months, however, prices have plunged again. In order to try and counter this, the so-called OPEC+ -- who together account for more than half of the worlds oil output -- is discussing renewing the pact or perhaps cutting output still further. All the signals are that more reductions in output are on the cards, despite the pressure from Trump, who argues that higher energy costs will choke off the economy. A million (barrels cut) would be ideal, the Saudi minister said. Ideally, everyone should join equally. I think thats the fair and equitable solution.