OPEC Expects World Demand for Oil to Expand by 200,000 daily barrels

OPEC predicted world oil demand will grow more quickly in the rest of 2013 and indicated the group can keep pumping more oil than the output target it retained at a May 31 meeting without over-supplying the market.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in a monthly report forecast world oil demand would expand by 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the second half, up from 700,000 bpd in the first six months of 2013.

“The second half of the year is expected to see higher demand,” said the report by OPEC’s economists. “In terms of demand growth, the expected global economic recovery in the second half of this year could also add more barrels to seasonally higher global consumption.”

With oil prices near the group’s preferred level of $100 a barrel, OPEC at a May 31 meeting agreed to retain its output target at 30 million bpd, leaving the door open for informal supply tweaks by top exporter Saudi Arabia depending on demand.

via Reuters

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