OPEC+ delays oil capacity review after Iran war disrupts expansion plans, sources say

Business Recorder reported that a review meant to inform OPEC+ members' 2027 oil output quotas has been pushed back. Two unnamed sources linked the delay to the war on Iran by the United States and Israel, which has disrupted projects to expand production capacity across the Middle East. One source expects the review to be finished by mid-November, after an earlier completion deadline of the end of September 2026, and the OPEC producer group had not immediately responded to a request for comment.

Delayed projects that were meant to lift capacity in some OPEC+ countries have made it harder to estimate how much oil those nations can pump. Not all countries have submitted the data needed for the review, though the sources did not name them. Since capacity estimates shape quotas, lower assessments could bring pressure for reduced allocations, while members that have expanded might seek higher ones.

The United Arab Emirates had sought a bigger quota before exiting the alliance in May. Iraq is also seeking a larger quota and has considered leaving OPEC, according to sources who spoke to Reuters in June. The review is therefore a delicate exercise, because member quotas depend on its outcome.