OPEC’s oil production ticked up slightly in July, the cartel said Monday, even as production in Saudi Arabia—the de facto leader of the group—declined. Crude oil output in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries rose by 41,000 barrels a day last month, to average 32.32 million barrels a day, the cartel said, citing secondary sources. The increase was driven by higher production in Kuwait, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. However, OPEC said Saudi Arabian crude output fell by nearly 53,000 barrels a day in July, according to secondary sources. Saudi Arabia told OPEC directly its own production actually came down by 200,000 barrels daily, to 10.29 million barrels a day, last month, widening discrepancies between the Kingdom’s official production data and figures provided by external agencies. The International Energy Agency on Friday reported a 110,000 barrel a day decline in Saudi production in July, month-on-month, despite […]