<P> The differing economic needs of OPEC member states often affect the internal debates behind OPEC production quotas . Poorer members have pushed for production cuts from fellow members, to increase the price of oil and thus their own revenues . These proposals conflict with Saudi Arabia's stated long - term strategy of being a partner with the world's economic powers to ensure a steady flow of oil that would support economic expansion . Part of the basis for this policy is the Saudi concern that overly expensive oil or unreliable supply will drive industrial nations to conserve energy and develop alternative fuels, curtailing the worldwide demand for oil and eventually leaving unneeded barrels in the ground . To this point, Saudi Oil Minister Yamani famously remarked in 1973: "The Stone Age didn't end because we ran out of stones ." </P> <P> On 10 September 2008, with oil prices still near US $100 / bbl, a production dispute occurred when the Saudis reportedly walked out of a negotiating session where rival members voted to reduce OPEC output . Although Saudi delegates officially endorsed the new quotas, they stated anonymously that they would not observe them . The New York Times quoted one such delegate as saying: "Saudi Arabia will meet the market's demand . We will see what the market requires and we will not leave a customer without oil . The policy has not changed ." Over the next few months, oil prices plummeted into the $30 s, and did not return to $100 until the Libyan Civil War in 2011 . </P> <P> During 2014--2015, OPEC members consistently exceeded their production ceiling, and China experienced a slowdown in economic growth . At the same time, US oil production nearly doubled from 2008 levels and approached the world - leading "swing producer" volumes of Saudi Arabia and Russia, due to the substantial long - term improvement and spread of shale "fracking" technology in response to the years of record oil prices . These developments led in turn to a plunge in US oil import requirements (moving closer to energy independence), a record volume of worldwide oil inventories, and a collapse in oil prices that continued into early 2016 . </P> <P> In spite of global oversupply, on 27 November 2014 in Vienna, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al - Naimi blocked appeals from poorer OPEC members for production cuts to support prices . Naimi argued that the oil market should be left to rebalance itself competitively at lower price levels, strategically rebuilding OPEC's long - term market share by ending the profitability of high - cost US shale oil production . As he explained in an interview: </P>

Six countries other than saudi arabia that produce petroleum