Saudi has hiked output by 300,000 bpd

Saudi Arabia has increased its oil production by 300,000 barrels per day in response to orders from customers, mostly from the United States, and will pump 9.45 million bpd in June, Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi said on Friday.

"Every month, we receive (orders) from our customers worldwide. On May 10 we increased our response to our customers by 300,000 barrels because they asked for it," Nuaimi told reporters during a visit by US President George W. Bush to Saudi Arabia.

He said additional demand came from about 50 customers, mostly US clients, "and we responded to it on May 10."

"Our production for June will be 9.45 million barrels per day," he added.