Iran Cuts Oil Production to Lowest Point in 40 Years Amid Low Demand, Sanctions

Iran Cuts Oil Production to Lowest Point in 40 Years Amid Low Demand, Sanctions

Published July 8th, 2020 - 06:30 GMT











Highlights





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Iranian oil production has reached its lowest point in almost four decades, according to industry experts, with the country's storage facilities fast approaching full capacity.

The news comes amid a dip in Iran's oil exports due to a crash in global demand, and in a period when its refineries have been hampered as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

With over 11,000 confirmed fatalities, Iran has suffered the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, affecting all areas of industry. 

This has created a perfect storm for the country's vital oil sector, with what little selling ability it has further disrupted by sanctions imposed by the US in 2018 following Washington's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran's total liquid production dropped from 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in March this year to 3 million bpd in June, according to FGE Energy, which predicts that the figure will drop by an additional 100,000 bpd in July.

Crude production was as low as 1.9 million bpd in June, the lowest since the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war in 1981.

Exports also fell,