Members of the OPEC+ alliance are expected to address key questions around future oil production levels and potential near-term output hikes in a series of meetings scheduled for this week, according to two delegates familiar with the matter.*

The group, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers such as Russia, will convene on Wednesday to discuss the framework for establishing production baselines for the year 2027. While the meeting is not expected to alter the current output policy, one delegate said OPEC headquarters will likely be tasked with preparing a mechanism to assess and implement updated baselines.

Baselines serve as reference points for determining each country’s allowed production levels, whether for cuts or increases, and have become a contentious issue within the 22-member alliance. Countries like the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, which have ramped up production capacity, are pushing for higher quotas. In contrast, several African members have seen output capacity decline, complicating efforts to revise baseline levels fairly.

The baseline changes are seen as a foundational step in shaping the group’s long-term production strategy, especially as existing output cuts are set to expire by the end of 2026.

Meanwhile, a separate meeting on Saturday involving eight OPEC+ members currently unwinding the most recent round of production cuts may lead to a further increase in output. According to delegates, the group could approve a July production hike of 411,000 barrels per day (bpd), mirroring increases already implemented for May and June.

These output hikes are part of a phased rollback of cuts introduced in recent years to stabilize global oil markets. OPEC+ has enacted three layers of output reductions since 2022, two of which remain in effect through 2026. The most recent layer is being gradually lifted by a subset of members, who may complete the unwinding by the end of October.

The potential production hike comes amid recent market volatility. In April, oil prices dipped to a four-year low of under $60 per barrel following the announcement of accelerated OPEC+ output increases and renewed concerns over global economic growth driven by U.S. tariffs. Since then, prices have recovered to around $65 per barrel.