LONDON, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Platts - Oil production from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) fell by 300,000 barrels per day (b/d) to 30.3 million b/d in October from 30.6 million b/d in September as supply from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Nigeria dropped back, according to the just-released Platts survey of OPEC and oil industry officials and analysts.

Kingpin producer Saudi Arabia accounted for 150,000 b/d of a total 380,000 b/d decline that was partly offset by an 80,000 b/d increase in Libyan supply. Iraqi and Nigerian volumes fell by 90,000 b/d and 70,000 b/d respectively.

Libya's average production of 860,000 b/d was the highest monthly volume since July 2013, when output averaged 1 million b/d. But the month-over-month increase, although marking the latest increment in a steady monthly climb from as little as 200,000 b/d in May, comes amid the North African country's increasing political strife, which is feeding into the oil sector. Earlier Tuesday, a source with close ties to the National Oil Corporation said production was currently running at around 540,000 b/d after falling back from around 1 million b/d at the end of October.

"Just as Platts reports a drop in OPEC production, easing up on what looked to be significant oversupply relative to world demand, there are new reports of a sharp slowdown in Libyan output, just this month," said John Kingston, Platts global director of news. "That sort of volatility creates a significant wild card as OPEC heads to its meeting at the end of November: with one country in position to be responsible for short-term increases or decreases measured in the thousands of barrels per day. Planning in that atmosphere becomes almost impossible."

The October total, which leaves OPEC overproducing its 30 million b/d output ceiling by just 300,000 b/d, is some 900,000 b/d above OPEC's most recent forecast of demand for its crude in the first quarter of 2015. In its most recent monthly oil market report, OPEC forecast that the call on its crude would fall from 30.15 million b/d in the current quarter to just 28.4 million b/d in the first three months of 2015. For 2015 as a whole, OPEC expects demand for its crude to average 29.5 million b/d.

On Monday, Kuwaiti oil minister Ali al-Omair said he did not expect OPEC to cut output at its November 27 meeting in Vienna.

There has been no word from Saudi Arabia on the upcoming meeting, which takes place just three days after the deadline for nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers to produce an agreement that would lead to the removal of sanctions on Tehran and an eventual return to world oil markets of more than 1 million b/d of Iranian crude exports.

"Even if a nuclear deal with Iran is reached, it's not likely the market will see new Iranian crude in the short term," noted Kingston. "But the prospect of increased flows from Iran at some point in 2015 could arise at the meeting."

Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi has not spoken publicly about oil prices since September 11, when he said prices went up and down all the time and that he didn't know what the "big fuss" was about. During that week, Brent crude oil prices dipped below $100 per barrel (/b) for the first time since June 2013.

Early on November 11, Brent crude traded at $81.23/b, its lowest level since October 20, 2010.

For output numbers by country, click here. You may be prompted for a cost-free, one-time-only log-in registration. For the latest OPEC news features, visit this OPEC Features link and for an OPEC guide, access this link: http://www.platts.com/news-feature/2014/oil/opec-guide/index.

Additional information on oil, energy and related information may be found on the Platts website at www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the biofuels, carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, shipping and sugar markets. A division of McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI), Platts is based in London with more than 1000 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About McGraw Hill Financial: McGraw Hill Financial (NYSE: MHFI) is a leading financial intelligence company providing the global capital and commodity markets with independent benchmarks, credit ratings, portfolio and enterprise risk solutions, and analytics. The Company's iconic brands include: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Dow Jones Indices, Platts, CRISIL and J.D. Power. The Company has approximately 17,000 employees in 30 countries. Additional information is available at www.mhfi.com.

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts