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Platts Survey: December OPEC Oil Output Fell to 30.74 Mil. Barrels Per Day

Posted on: Thursday, 15 January 2009, 14:50 CST

LONDON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Platts--The 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pumped an average 30.74 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil in December, according to a Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials just released. This is a decline of 640,000 b/d from the November level of 31.38 million b/d. The total includes Indonesia, which left the oil producer group at the end of the year.

Excluding Indonesia, production from the other 12 members fell by 630,000 b/d to 29.86 million b/d from the November estimate of 30.53 million b/d, the survey showed.

"This is nowhere near the amount of cuts needed if OPEC wishes to balance the market, and OPEC knows it," said Platts Global Director of Oil John Kingston. "That's why they were willing in December to make further cuts to production. Outside of the price, the most important number to watch in coming weeks is OPEC's actual production in January."

Production from the 11 members bound by OPEC output agreements--excluding Iraq, which is not subject to production pacts as it tries to rebuild its sanctions- and war-ravaged oil industry--fell by 650,000 b/d to 27.51 million b/d from November's estimated 28.16 million b/d.

This left the OPEC-11 exceeding their 27.308 million b/d ceiling by around 200,000 b/d in December. That ceiling has now been superseded by a new output limit of 24.845 million b/d, agreed at OPEC's December 17 meeting in Algeria, which came into effect at the beginning of January.

Most OPEC members reduced output, with the biggest single cut coming from Saudi Arabia, whose production was estimated to have fallen to 8.37 million b/d in December from 8.9 million b/d in November. Other reductions ranged between 10,000 b/d and 40,000 b/d.

Combined reductions totaling 710,000 b/d were partly offset by 70,000 b/d in increases from Angola, Iraq and Nigeria. Ecuadoran production was seen largely unchanged near 500,000 b/d.

For production numbers by country, view this table. For related and other energy information visit Platts online.

About Platts:

Platts, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), is a leading global provider of energy and commodities information. With nearly a century of business experience, Platts serves customers across more than 150 countries. From 17 offices worldwide, Platts serves the oil, natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, coal, emissions, petrochemical, shipping and metals markets. Platts' real time news, pricing, analytical services, and conferences help markets operate with transparency and efficiency. Traders, risk managers, analysts, and industry leaders depend upon Platts to help them make better trading and investment decisions. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

SOURCE Platts

Source: PR Newswire

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