OPEC Production Falls

OPEC oil production fell 700,000 bpd in November, driven down by deep cuts to Iranian and Iraqi supply. The group's compliance rate with supply curbs improved to 89 percent last month from 83 percent in October as Iran cut some 310,000 bpd of output to stay within its OPEC quota, IEA, the West's supply watchdog, said in its monthly Oil Market Report. OPEC output fell further after supply from Iraq -- which does not take part in OPEC's supply cut deal -- dropped 440,000 bpd as Baghdad suspended exports in a dispute with the United Nations over renewing its 'oil-for-food' exchange. OPEC's lower November supply of 25.8 million bpd offset a 450,000 bpd rise in non-OPEC production to cut total world oil output by 250,000 bpd to 73.9 million bpd, the Paris-based group said. While OPEC compliance with supply curbs improved last month, the IEA revised down its October compliance rate from 87 percent to 83 percent due to higher supply from Iran. Iran was well below its 3.359 million bpd OPEC quota in November at 3.17 million bpd, but in excess for October at 3.48 million bpd.