Oil News: OPEC+ Output Hike Sparks Bearish Crude Outlook and Supply Fears

OPEC+ Supply Surge Pressures Oil Prices as Market Eyes Demand Outlook

Crude oil futures opened sharply lower on Monday, as traders reacted to OPEC+’s decision to accelerate output hikes, stoking concerns of a growing supply surplus in an already fragile demand environment. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) briefly dipped to $55.30 before finding support just above the long-term level at $55.55, narrowly avoiding a retest of the April 9 low at $54.48.

OPEC+ Output Acceleration Weighs on Market Sentiment

OPEC+ announced over the weekend it would increase crude production by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June, marking the second consecutive monthly hike. This move lifts total production additions to 960,000 bpd for April through June—roughly 44% of the 2.2 million bpd in voluntary cuts made since 2022. Saudi Arabia, the group’s de facto leader, is reportedly pushing for faster unwinding of cuts to pressure non-compliant members like Iraq and Kazakhstan.

The decision added immediate downside pressure to oil markets, with both Brent and WTI falling over $1 per barrel in early trading. As the session progressed, oil futures began clawing back some losses. However, the bearish tone remains dominant given heightened supply concerns.

Demand Uncertainty Compounds Bearish Tone

Traders remain wary of the demand side of the equation. ING cited ongoing demand uncertainty driven by tariff risks and weak refined fuel consumption, particularly in Asia. Vortexa data shows a 150 million barrel build in global onshore and floating crude inventories since mid-February, reinforcing the surplus narrative.

Adding barrels into a demand-constrained market has compressed the Brent futures curve. The prompt spread narrowed to just 10 cents per barrel, down from 47 cents the previous session, and briefly dipped into contango—a bearish market structure where future prices exceed spot levels.

Forecasts Cut as Market Reassesses Fundamentals

Investment banks have revised their oil prices projections in response to OPEC+’s move. Barclays cut its 2025 Brent forecast by $4 to $66, while ING now expects Brent to average $65 this year, down from $70. Analysts at Saxo Bank noted that Saudi Arabia’s push appears tactical—meant to both punish quota violations and put pressure on U.S. shale producers.

Bearish Oil Price Outlook Persists

Technically, WTI’s failure to break below $55.30 suggests some support, but bearish momentum persists unless prices reclaim resistance at $59.67. With OPEC+ bringing more barrels online and inventories swelling, traders are bracing for further downside unless demand signals improve. The oil prices forecast remains bearish in the near term, with supply concerns outweighing any tentative signs of a rebound.

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