As Trump Targets India’s Russian Oil Imports, OPEC+ Announces Output Hike to Calm Markets
The decision comes as international markets respond to mounting political pressure from the United States, especially targeting India’s continued purchase of Russian crude.
Eight major OPEC+ nations, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, on Sunday declared a fresh oil output increase of 5.47 lakh barrels per day, effective from September.
This move comes amid growing global market reaction to intensifying political pressure from the US, with a particular focus on India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil.
The hike, confirmed through an official statement, is the latest step by the so-called “Voluntary Eight” (V8) — Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman — who aim to recapture market share amidst stable crude prices.
“The eight involved nations will implement a production adjustment of 547,000 barrels per day in September 2025 from the production level of August 2025,” their joint statement noted.
The release mentioned that the decision was taken “considering a stable global economic forecast and strong market fundamentals, as seen in the current low oil stockpiles.”
This development marks another shift in OPEC+’s stance after several years of enforcing strict output curbs to support oil prices. Since April, the V8 has gradually raised production, moving away from price management to defending market share — particularly as non-OPEC supply, including discounted Russian crude, continues entering vital markets.
The timing of this announcement is important, as US President Donald Trump has warned of new sanctions and duties on countries that keep buying oil from Russia.
In recent comments, Trump gave Russia ten days to cease its military operation in Ukraine or face harsher penalties. India, which is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, has come under specific attention.
“We’re gonna put on tariffs and stuff,” Trump said, hinting at a possible 100 percent duty on Russian oil purchasers, including India, which has been importing nearly 1.6 million barrels per day this year.
Experts believe that Trump’s warnings are adding to the uncertainty in global energy markets, which are already experiencing supply worries owing to geopolitical tensions.
Although OPEC+ has indicated a readiness to raise production, analysts say the group is unlikely to make further changes unless there are actual disruptions in supply. “OPEC+ will respond only to genuine supply disturbances,” said oil market expert Giovanni Staunovo, “not to price hikes driven by risk premiums.”
