Middle East Economic Survey?

[Robert Naiman <naiman@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yet another oil question. Does anyone know anything about the Middle East
Economic Survey? Is it considered a standard source?

I ask because: in Peter Millard's Dow Jones article "Venezuela 's PdVSA
Ramps Up Publicity Ahead Of Recall" (July 30), the second-to-last paragraph
reads:

"The government claims the "new PdVSA" has brought oil production back to
the 3.1 million barrels a day Venezuela was producing before the strike,
but independent analysts put the figure closer to 2.6 million b/d."

Whereas today's Dow Jones article "OPEC Pumps 30 Mln B/D In July, 25-Yr
Record - MEES," filed by Shai Oster from London, gives 2.69 million b/d for
July and 2.68 million b/d for June, i.e. 2.7 million b/d, based on the
Middle East Economic Survey. So my question: is there a reason to report
2.6 million b/d as the "independent analysts" figure, rather than 2.7
million b/d? (other than liking truncation better than rounding...)

--
Robert Naiman
Senior Policy Analyst
Venezuela Information Office
733 15th Street, NW Suite 932
Washington, DC 20005
t. 202-347-8081 x. 605
f. 202-347-8091
www.veninfo.org
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