Opec oil output slides in December

London

OPEC's (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) crude production fell by 310,000 barrels a day in December, as unplanned disruptions in Nigeria reduced the group's supply before deliberate cuts take effect this month.

Nigeria's daily output dropped by 200,000 barrels to 1.45 million in December, ending three months of gains as the African nation struggled to restore capacity after a year of militant attacks on oil infrastructure. Saudi Arabia's production fell by 50,000 barrels a day while Venezuela declined by 40,000.