Oil production by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) increased by 1.78 million barrels per day (mmbbl/d) month on month (MoM) to 21.49 mmbbl/d in September 2026, driven by increases in Saudi Arabia and Iraq despite export disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, a Reuters survey showed.

The increase came as seven members of the wider OPEC+ alliance had agreed to raise production in September, but the conflict in the Middle East prevented the planned increase from being fully realized, according to the survey.

The survey, based on data from companies tracking oil flows and information from oil company and OPEC sources and consultants, found that Saudi Arabia and Iraq recorded the largest production increases during the month.

The group also made the decision to keep oil production ‌targets steady for November.

In September 2026, attacks on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline disrupted shipments from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, prompting Aramco to suspend October deliveries to some European refiners under long-term contracts. The pipeline transports crude from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oilfields to the Red Sea, providing an alternative to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iraq sought in September to have its future OPEC+ production target calculated using a baseline capacity of 6 million bbl/d, according to a report cited by Reuters.

The country has pursued alternative export routes through Türkiye and Syria to reduce its reliance on southern terminals and Gulf shipping.