The oil market is expected to become more balanced in 2016 as demand continues to grow, OPEC Secretary-General Abdullah al-Badri said on Monday ahead of the producer group's policy meeting next month.
"The expectation is that the market will return to more balance in 2016," he said in a speech at an Asian ministerial energy roundtable in the Qatari capital Doha, Reuters reported.
"We see global oil demand maintaining its recent healthy growth. We see less non-OPEC supply … And we see an increase in the demand for OPEC crude," Badri said, according to the text of the speech published on the OPEC website.
In a clear reference to supply sources such as US shale oil, Badri said most of the oil supply increases in recent years have come from high-cost production.
"The market is now taking on board this new reality and gradually resetting itself, as we can see with falling non-OPEC supply growth and stronger demand," he said.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which decided late last year to focus on maintaining market share instead of propping up oil prices, holds its next policy-setting meeting at its Vienna headquarters on December 4.
Saudi Arabia's deputy oil minister said on Monday that long-term oil market fundamentals remain robust but prolonged low prices could threaten security of supply and pave the way for a price spike.
