Tehran, Oct 31, IRNA - OPEC will raise its production ceiling by 1.4 million barrels per day to 27.2 million bpd as of Thursday, November first, from the earlier 25.8 million bpd.

Informed sources say that based on the OPEC oil ministers' estimate, which is being based on the organization's official production ceiling and members' actual output, OPEC production ceiling will reach 27.2 million bpd as of November 1, 2007. Iran's share in the production will be 196,000 bpd.

The OPEC members had agreed in their 145th meeting in Vienna in September to raise production by 500,000 bpd as of November 1 to address market demand and balance prices.

Despite OPEC members' efforts to raise the production and calm the market, the prices continue to soar on the markets and they topped dlrs 93 bpd last week.

The main reasons for the price hike are depreciation of the dollar, the Iraq-Turkey tension, and unrest in Nigeria and the Middle East.

... Payvand News - 11/01/07 ... --