Kazakhstan Reduced Oil Production By 230,000 Barrels Per Day In December

Kazakhstan’s Oil Output Drops Sharply in December

In December, Kazakhstan’s oil production fell by over 200,000 barrels per day, averaging 1.522 million barrels daily—down from 1.759 million barrels per day in November. This figure is also well below the country’s 2025 yearly average of 1.776 million barrels per day.

The decline was largely due to the forced shutdown of Single Point Mooring (SPM-3) after a drone strike, combined with severe weather conditions affecting the Black Sea. Two oil tankers in the Black Sea, including one operated by Chevron (NYSE:CVX), were hit by unidentified drones while heading to a Russian terminal. In response, Kazakh officials have called on the United States and Europe to help safeguard the Black Sea shipping corridor, which is responsible for about 1% of the world’s oil supply.

According to a statement from the ministry, “The rising number of such incidents underscores the increasing threats to global energy infrastructure. We urge our international partners to work closely with us to establish joint strategies that can prevent similar disruptions going forward.”

Further Production Cuts on the Horizon

Kazakhstan may see additional reductions in oil output after committing to much steeper compensation cuts. The country has agreed to ramp up its OPEC+ production cuts to 669,000 barrels per day by June 2026, a significant increase from its previous commitment of 131,000 barrels per day. This move is part of a coordinated effort among four major producers to address market oversupply and improve adherence to output quotas.

Kazakhstan’s new pledge represents the largest portion of the collective 829,000 barrels per day reduction, aiming to correct past overproduction and support oil prices through mid-2026. Other producers have also made commitments: Iraq will maintain its 100,000 barrels per day cut, the UAE will boost its reduction to 55,000 barrels per day from 10,000, and Oman will trim output by about 5,700 barrels per day through June.

OPEC+ Maintains Output Freeze Amid Market Uncertainty

Last month, OPEC+ decided to delay the planned phased return of 2.9 million barrels per day to the market, keeping this supply offline for the first quarter of 2026 (January through March). This decision was made in light of concerns about a possible global surplus and typically weaker demand during the winter months.

Written by Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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