New York: Opec crude production climbed in January to the highest level in Bloomberg data going back 20 years as Indonesia’s membership was reactivated.

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries boosted output by 48,000 barrels to 33.113 million a day this month, according to a Bloomberg survey of oil companies, producers and analysts. The total includes 815,000 barrels from Indonesia, which contributed for the first time since its membership was restored January 1 following a seven-year suspension.

Opec set aside its output target of 30 million barrels a day at its December 4 meeting in Vienna. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude exporter, has led the group in fighting for market share against higher-cost producers such as shale drillers in the US. Crude futures have been volatile this week amid mixed cues about the likelihood of a coordinated production cut by Opec and other producers.

“It looks like everyone is going flat out,” said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts. “This suggests nobody is positioning themselves to make cuts. An agreement to cooperate in curbing supply to support prices isn’t looking likely.”

Nigeria’s production increased 109,000 barrels a day to 2.028 million, the highest level in a year. It was the biggest gain in the survey. Nigerian output is volatile because of unrest and theft in the Niger River delta, the main oil-producing region.

Iranian output rose by 60,000 barrels a day to 2.86 million. Iran’s Oil Ministry gave directions to increase output by 500,000 barrels a day after international sanctions were lifted this month, the country’s news agency Shana said.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia, Opec’s top producer, reduced output by 50,000 barrels a day to 10.2 million in January, amid sluggish demand from Chinese refiners. The Saudi Arabian Oil Co, known as Saudi Aramco, has higher official selling prices, or OSPs, than some competitors, also curbing demand for its crude.

Indonesia, the only net-importer in the group, increased its production this month by 22,000 barrels from December’s 793,000 barrels a day.

Opec’s next scheduled meeting is in June.