Saudi Arabia Says It Pumped More Oil in September

LONDON--Saudi Arabia told the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries that it increased its oil production by 107,000 barrels a day last month, defying market hopes that the OPEC kingpin might cut its output in the face of free falling prices.

The information published in OPEC's monthly oil market report Friday contrasts with data provided by secondary sources, which in the same report said the Kingdom's output fell by 50,000 barrels a day last month to 9.6 million barrels a day. That is 100,000 barrels a day less than the number Saudi Arabia said it pumped.

It is not uncommon for the information provided by OPEC members and secondary sources in the organization's monthly report to show discrepancies, but the fact that Saudi Arabia is publicly saying it is pumping more oil at a time when many member countries are hoping it will cut back to prop up oil prices is significant.

Signs of tension within the oil producers group are already emerging ahead of its semi-annual meeting in in Vienna in November. The steep drop in oil prices over the summer is likely to make for heated discussions in Vienna over the group's output.

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