Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said on Monday that oil markets were rebalancing after years of oversupply.
He said he still expected an OPEC-led deal to cut output during the first half of the year to be extended to all of 2017.
The OPEC, of which Saudi Arabia is the de-facto leader, and other producers including Russia, pledged to cut output by 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of the year to prop up the market.
“Based on consultations that I’ve had with participating members, I am confident the agreement will be extended into the second half of the year and possibly beyond,” said Falih, Saudi Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, during an industry event in Kuala Lumpur.
Falih said recent price falls had been caused by the low demand season and refinery maintenance, as well as by non-OPEC production growth, especially in the United States. (Reuters/NAN)
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