WANA (May 14) – The latest monthly report by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) paints an unprecedented picture of turmoil in the global oil market, with crude production collapsing across major producers following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

 

According to the report released on May 13, 2026, Saudi Arabia’s crude oil production fell by 651,000 barrels per day in April, reaching 6.316 million barrels per day — the kingdom’s lowest production level since the 1990 Persian Gulf War.

 

Secondary-source data cited by OPEC showed Saudi output declining from 7.726 million barrels per day in March to 6.768 million in April. Since the start of the Iran war in February 2026, Saudi production has dropped by roughly 42 percent.

 

The decline was not limited to Saudi Arabia. Total production from OPEC’s 12 member states fell sharply to 18.983 million barrels per day in April, compared with 20.710 million in March and 28.65 million in February.

 

Energy analysts described the figures as OPEC’s lowest production level in 35 years. Combined output from the wider OPEC+ alliance also dropped by 1.74 million barrels per day month-on-month, reaching 33.19 million barrels per day.

 

Kuwait recorded one of the steepest declines among member states. Its oil production plunged to around 600,000 barrels per day in April, less than a quarter of its pre-war level.

 

OPEC data showed Kuwaiti production had stood at 1.16 million barrels per day in March and 2.582 million in February, meaning the country has lost more than 75 percent of its production capacity within two months.

 

The organization also revised down its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026. OPEC now expects world oil demand to increase by 1.17 million barrels per day this year to 106.3 million barrels per day, around 200,000 barrels lower than its previous estimate.

 

At the same time, OPEC raised its outlook for 2027, forecasting global demand to rise by 1.54 million barrels per day next year to 107.9 million barrels per day.

 

The report comes amid a historic development inside the organization itself, as United Arab Emirates officially announced it would leave OPEC starting May 2026 after nearly six decades of membership, following prolonged disputes with Saudi Arabia over production quotas.

 

Analysts say the UAE’s departure represents one of the most serious blows to OPEC unity since the organization’s founding, particularly as the global oil market faces supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and extreme price volatility linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.