Bloomberg survey: OPEC crude production rose 1.16 mln b/d in July to an average
19.44 mln b/d, with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounting for almost all of
the increase. Iraq led the gain, up 460k b/d to 2.30 mln b/d; tanker-tracking
data show Iraqi loadings rose 37% in July. Kuwait added 360k b/d to 1.57 mln
b/d, with officials saying output is at its highest average since the conflict
began. Saudi production increased 390k b/d to 7.40 mln b/d but remains several
million barrels below pre-conflict levels, and Saudi export flows via Red Sea
alternative routes have fallen amid Houthi threats to tankers.
