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Saudi Arabia Slashes December Oil Prices to Defend Market Share in Asia
Saudi Arabia has announced a sharp reduction in its official selling price (OSP) for crude oil destined for Asia in December, an announcement that follows closely on the heels of the OPEC+ decision to halt output increases in early 2026.
Saudi Aramco will sell its flagship “Arab Light” grade to Asian buyers at a premium of $1.00 per barrel above the Oman/Dubai average for shipments in December, down by $1.20 from the November level. Meanwhile, its Arab Medium and Arab Heavy grades were each cut by $1.40 to premiums of $0.05 and $0.10 per barrel, respectively. The Arab Extra Light grade saw a drop of $1.20 to a premium of $1.30 per barrel. While significant, the cuts fall within market expectations.
The decision comes just days after the OPEC+ alliance agreed to raise production by 137,000 barrels per day for December and then pause further supply increases in the first quarter of 2026. Since April this year, OPEC+ has lifted output targets by around 2.9 million b/d (approximately 2.7 % of global supply), and the pace has recently been slowed amid gof those additions have added to concerns about oversupply.
Saudi Arabia’s price adjustment appears to reflect two interlinked trends. Firstly, a well-supplied Asian market facing increasing volumes of crude, and secondly, Riyadh’s desire to maintain competitiveness and market share even as it positions for higher volumes.
For Asian refiners, especially those in China, India, Japan, and South Korea, this price cut offers a relatively more attractive feedstock cost for Saudi barrels. Given that Asia remains the largest seaborne crude-importing region, the move may stimulate increased term nominations or spot buying of Saudi crude. On the other hand, the lower premium also signals concerns about demand going forward and the potential of oversupply.
In the short term, traders will be watching demand from Asian refiners for December closely, specifically whether spot flows of Saudi barrels increase. Immediately after the news, oil prices were trading flat, with WTI hovering at $59.61 while Brent was changing hands at $63.53.
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