VOL. XLIV

No. 26

25-June-2001

IRAQ

Iraq Uncertainty And Falling Prices Create Dilemma For OPEC

Crude prices fell sharply last week on speculation that Iraqi crude exports would return to the market sooner than feared and on further evidence of growing US products inventories. Continuing uncertainty over Iraq and weakening prices would create a major headache for OPEC ministers when they gather for their extraordinary meeting in Vienna on 3 July. Their dilemma will be: do we increase crude...