Rio de Janeiro – Brazil’s oil production posted a decrease of 147,000 barrels per day (bpd) last March from February, to an average of 3.1 million bpd, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said.
In its monthly report published on Thursday (11), OPEC pointed to an expectation of growth in Brazilian output. But it notes that the exploration on offshore rigs could see some interruptions.
The document mentions Brazil as one of the leading drivers of the liquid fuel supply in 2022, alongside the United States, Russia, Canada, Guiana, and China. The biggest declines in production were posted in Norwegian and Thailand.
For this year, OPEC estimates that the capital investment for the exploration of Brazilian oil and gas will jump by 15% from 2022.
OPEC projections
In the report, OPEC left its 2023 growth forecast of 2.6% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), and its estimate of 1.2% for the US and 0.8% for the Euro zone. As for China, the 2023 projection is higher, at 5.2%.
According to the document, Brazil’s economy is expected to grow 1% in 2023, down from its 2.9% growth last year. “High interest rates and inflation are expected to cause a growth slowdown, with limited fiscal space for domestic investments in Brazil,” OPEC said.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda