*Latest official data from Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas show that the sultanate produced 992,000 b/d of crude and condensate in December. This pegs average 2018 output at 978,000 b/d, up a fraction on 2017 but almost 3% down on 2016’s record 1.004mn b/d – the only time Oman’s output has ever topped 1mn b/d.

*Exports of crude and condensate fell by 10% to average 793,000 b/d for 2018, a seven-year low, as the country has ramped up its refining throughputs. The ‘Sohar Refinery Improvements Project’ added 81,000 b/d to the capacity of Oman’s largest refinery whilst boosting the sultanate’s overall capacity to 303,000 b/d – 197,000 b/d at Sohar, and 106,000 b/d at Mina al Fahal (see map, MEES, 18 January and MEES, 23 February 2018). (CONTINUED - 332 WORDS)