Astana – Kazakhstan’s crude oil production fell slightly in the first half of April, primarily due to reduced output at the Tengiz oil field, but the country remains above its assigned production quota under the OPEC+ agreement, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.
According to the industry source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, crude output (excluding gas condensate) averaged approximately 1.82 million barrels per day (bpd) between April 1 and 13—a 3% drop from the March average. The decline was mainly attributed to operational adjustments at the Chevron-led Tengiz field, one of Kazakhstan’s largest production hubs.
Despite the dip, Kazakhstan continues to overshoot its OPEC+ target of 1.473 million bpd for the month of April, prolonging tensions within the oil producers’ alliance.
Tensions Rise Within OPEC+
The OPEC+ coalition, a grouping of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers led by Russia, has grown increasingly frustrated with Kazakhstan’s repeated overproduction. Several member states, including top producer Saudi Arabia, have privately voiced concerns over Kazakhstan's failure to align with its pledged output levels, according to three OPEC+ sources cited by Reuters last month.
As a top-10 global oil producer, Kazakhstan’s non-compliance has drawn criticism for undermining the collective efforts of the group to stabilize global oil markets amid persistent price volatility and concerns about demand in key economies.
CPC Exports Up Despite Operational Strains
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s crude exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) slightly increased in March, despite earlier reports of pipeline operation challenges. The CPC pipeline is a critical export route for Kazakh crude, carrying oil from the country’s western fields to the Black Sea.
The sustained high output and strong export volumes further complicate Kazakhstan's standing with OPEC+, especially as the group continues to push for production discipline to counterbalance fluctuating global demand and geopolitical risks.
