<article><p class="lead">Production from the Opec+ alliance fell 3.58mn b/d short of its target level in August, two delegates said. </p><p>The coalition's 10 participating Opec members accounted for 1.399mn b/d of the August shortfall, while their non-Opec allies under-produced by 2.185mn b/d, according to Opec data seen by <i>Argus</i>.</p><p>This significantly widens the gap between the group's pledged and delivered production, <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2362369">which stood at 2.892mn b/d in July</a>. </p><p>Opec+ calculates its conformity and production figures by averaging out the estimates of seven independent secondary sources, including <i>Argus</i>. An <i>Argus</i> survey found Opec+ output <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2369571">was 3.41mn b/d under the group's August target</a>, with deal-bound Opec members and their non-Opec counterparts missing their quotas by 1.27mn b/d and 2.14mn b/d, respectively.</p><p>Underproduction from Russia, whose output is constrained by western sanctions, but not exempted from its Opec+ commitments, amounted to 1.252mn b/d in August according to Opec+, and 1.26mn b/d per <i>Argus</i> estimates. </p><p>Nigeria fell 700,000 b/d short of its August quota as a consequence of ongoing infrastructural hurdles and security concerns.</p><p>The Opec+ alliance has agreed a 100,000 b/d target increase this month, <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2367777">which it will reverse in October</a>. Officials have repeatedly highlighted dwindling capacity within the group and the need for additional investment globally in the oil and gas sector.</p><p>The Opec+ Joint Technical Committee (JTC) that studies market conditions feeding into the group's policy will next meet on 4 October, ahead of the 5 October ministerial meeting to determine November production policy.</p><p><i>By Ruxandra Iordache</i></p></article>
