Saudi Arabia keeps crude supply steady to Asia

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, will keep its oil supplies to key Asian customers steady in January from the month before, industry sources said on Tuesday, an expected move after Opec decided not to raise output. European refiners said on Monday that they would receive steady volumes in January from December.
Traders had expected no change in supply for January after Opec opted not to raise output last week despite calls from consumer countries for more oil to cool crude prices which reached almost $100 last month. Saudi Arabia will supply full term volumes to Japanese and South Korean refiners for a third month in January, industry sources said. "The supply will be at contracted volumes," one source said.
Industry sources said Asian lifters had not requested additional volumes. Another source said that Saudi Aramco had not offered to supply extra either and that there was no change in the supply volumes of lighter and heavier crude grades for January.