OPEC keeps output ceiling at 30m barrels per day

The 166th Meeting of the Conference of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided here on Thursday to maintain the cartel's production level at 30 million barrels per day.
The Conference, chaired by Libyan Vice Prime Minister for Corporations and Abdourhman Ataher Al-Ahirish, congratulated Adil Abd Al-Mahdi on his appointment as Minister of Oil of Iraq, and thanked his predecessor in office, Abdul-Kareem Luaibi Bahedh, for his contribution to the work of the Organization.
The Conference elected Diezani Alison-Madueke CON, Minister of Petroleum Resources of Nigeria, as President of the Conference for one year, with effect from 1st January 2015, and Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry of Qatar, as Alternate President for the same period.
The Conference reviewed the Secretary General's report, the report of the Economic Commission Board (ECB) and a number of administrative matters.
The conferees exchanged views on developments in multilateral environment negotiations, including preparations for COP20/CMP10 (the UN Climate Change Conference) which will be held shortly in Lima, Peru; the status of the Organization's ongoing energy dialogue with the European Union (EU); its continued cooperative work with various other international organizations for the G-20; as well as its energy dialogue with the Russian Federation and others.
They reviewed the oil market outlook, as presented by the Secretary General, in particular supply/demand projections for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2015, with emphasis on the first half of the year. They also considered forecasts for the world economic outlook and noted that the global economic recovery was continuing, albeit very slowly and unevenly spread, with growth forecast at 3.2 percent for 2014 and 3.6 percent for 2015.
They noted that although world oil demand is forecast to increase during 2015, this will, yet again, be offset by the projected increase of 1.36 mb/d in non-OPEC supply.
The increase in oil and product stock levels in OECD countries, where days of forward cover are comfortably above the five-year average, coupled with the on-going rise in non-OECD inventories, are indications of an extremely well-supplied market.
Recording its concern over the rapid decline in oil prices in recent months, the Conference concurred that stable oil prices - at a level which did not affect global economic growth and, at the same time, allowed producers to receive a decent income and to invest to meet future demand - were vital for world economic wellbeing. Accordingly, in the interest of restoring market equilibrium, the Conference decided to maintain the production level of 30.0 mb/d, as was agreed in December 2011. As always, in taking this decision, Member Countries confirmed their readiness to respond to developments which could have an adverse impact on the maintenance of an orderly and balanced oil market.
Agreeing on the need to be vigilant given the uncertainties and risks associated with future developments in the world economy, the Conference directed the Secretariat to continue its close monitoring of developments in supply and demand, as well as non-fundamental factors such as speculative activity, keeping Member Countries fully briefed on developments.
The Conference appointed Dr. Bernard Mommer, Venezuelan Governor for OPEC, as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the year 2015, and Ahmed Messili, Algerian Governor for OPEC, as Alternate Chairman for the same period, with effect from January 1, 2015.
The Conference decided to extend the tenure of Abdalla S. El-Badri as Secretary-General for a further period of six months, until 31st December 2015.
The Conference approved the Budget of the Organization for the year 2015.
The Conference resolved that its next Ordinary Meeting will convene in Vienna, Austria, on Friday, June 5, 2015, immediately after the OPEC International Seminar on "Petroleum: An Engine for Development" which will take place at the Vienna Hofburg Palace on June 3-4, 2015.