Oman first quarter oil exports down

Oman's crude oil exports for the first quarter of 1999 were down 1.19% from their level during the same period last year, statictics released by the Omani Ministry of National Economy said.

During the same period, the price of oil per barrel was down 13% from $12.31 in 1998 to $10.71 in 1999. Japan was the largest importer of Omani crude oil, the statistics said.

The ministry also reported an increase of 24.4% in production of natural gas during January and February 1999, compared to the same period of 1998. Consumption of natural gas also scored a 15.9% increase in this January and February from the same period of 1998, Oman News Agency reported.