Oman, the biggest Middle East oil producer outside OPEC, increased its total monthly crude production by 12.2% in March from February, official data showed, amid a higher OPEC+ quota.

Oman, which is a member of the broader OPEC+ coalition, in March pumped an average daily production of 829,255 b/d, slightly above its 829,000 b/d quota, which rose from 821,000 b/d in February.

Total monthly oil exports to China, the top importer of Omani crude in February, fell in March by 17%, while oil exports to India, the No. 2 importer of Omani crude in February, more than doubled.

Total monthly oil and condensate exports rose 11% in March from February.

OPEC+ ministers are due to meet May 5 to decide on June production levels.

Falling output

Oil production by OPEC and its allies fell in March from February for the first time in more than a year, the latest S&P Global survey found, contributing to a tightening market thrown in flux by the Russia-Ukraine war.

Western sanctions began biting into primary non-OPEC partner Russia's oil flows, and sizable disruptions in Kazakhstan and Libya also led the coalition's production lower, the survey found.

OPEC's 13 members raised output by 60,000 b/d to 28.73 million b/d, but that was more than offset by a 160,000 b/d decline by the bloc's nine allies, who pumped 13.91 million b/d.