The oil-producing alliance OPEC+ is considering a modest increase in crude oil production for April, as it prepares to end a three-month pause in output growth.

Sources familiar with the talks say the group may raise supply by 137,000 barrels per day, a move aimed at responding to expected higher demand during the summer months and rising geopolitical tensions that have supported oil prices.

If approved, the increase would allow leading producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to regain market share. This comes as other members, including Russia and Iran, continue to face production and export limits due to Western sanctions. Output in Kazakhstan has also been improving after recent setbacks.

Eight OPEC+ producers – Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria and Oman are expected to meet on March 1 to decide whether to proceed with the production increase.

In a separate development, Saudi Arabia has reportedly activated short-term contingency plans to rapidly boost oil output and exports if a potential conflict between the United States and Iran disrupts crude supply from the Middle East.

OPEC officials, as well as authorities in Saudi Arabia and Russia, have not yet commented publicly on the discussions.