OPEC's crude production rose towards pre-war levels last month as Saudi Arabia led a recovery in supplies from the Persian Gulf, according to a Bloomberg survey published on Saturday. Output from the group increased by 930,000 barrels a day in October to 22.8 million barrels a day, roughly 88 percent of the volume the same members pumped in February, before the US-Israeli war with Iran began.

Saudi Arabia leads the recovery

Saudi Arabia accounted for most of the increase, raising production by 970,000 barrels a day in October to 9.2 million barrels a day, although that is still about 800,000 barrels a day below the rates it pumped at the start of the year. The kingdom's oil exports averaged 7 million barrels a day last month, approaching pre-war levels, according to tanker-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

Kuwait up, Iran at a three-decade low

Iraq raised output by 140,000 barrels a day to 4.15 million, while Kuwait boosted production by 130,000 barrels a day to average 2 million, the survey indicated. Reuters separately put Kuwait's October output at 2.1 million barrels a day, its highest since the war began. Iran moved the other way: its output fell by 120,000 barrels a day to 1.9 million, the lowest in Bloomberg monthly data stretching back to 1989, with no tankers observed at its main loading terminals such as Kharg Island since late August under the US naval blockade. The recovery in supplies has helped cool oil prices, with Brent futures falling this week to trade near 98 dollars a barrel. OPEC and its allies are reviewing how much each member can technically pump, with a view to setting output targets for 2027 when ministers meet on 29 November.

[Source: Rigzone / Bloomberg](https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/survey_shows_opec_output_neared_prewar_levels-07-nov-2026-185030-article/) | [Source: Baird Maritime / Reuters](https://www.bairdmaritime.com/offshore/drilling-production/kuwait-turns-up-the-volume-on-oil-production-despite-hormuz-threats)