Worldwide demand for crude oil is expected to rise by 1.9 per cent this year to 84.8 million barrels per day (bpd), Opec said in a report.

This estimate is down slightly from a December prediction by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries that foresaw demand rising to 84.9 million bpd.
The report, published shortly before a meeting of the 11-member group, came as Iran called for a reduction in oil production this year.
Opec's estimate for world oil demand last year has been revised to 83.2 million bpd, with growth down from December 2005 estimates but up 1.1 million bpd or 1.4 per cent compared to 2004.
Opec said the economy would still be strong this year and worldwide growth, estimated at 4.3 per cent, would lead to higher oil consumption in all major regions except for the part of Europe west of Russia.
Demand in industrialised countries is expected to increase by 700,000 bpd, or 3.2 per cent, while demand in China is to jump six per cent, accounting for about a fourth of the overall increase, the report said.
'It remains unclear whether this solid start to the year will be maintained throughout 2006,' the report said however, adding 'supply fears in West Africa and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East' were putting pressure on crude prices.
Opec said the US economy was 'a particular cause for concern' as 'any retrenchment by the American consumer could have a significant impact on Asian growth'.
The average price per barrel for oil, as determined by Opec's 'reference basket' was $50.64 last year, up 40 per cent from the previous year, according to Opec.
'Despite unseasonably warm weather in the northern hemisphere, the basket continued its upward trend in the first half of January to average $56.82 per barrel, the report said.
Citing secondary sources, Opec, which supplies about 35 per cent of the world's oil consumption, said it had produced an average 29.82 million bpd in December compared to 29.99 million bpd the previous month.
Platts, an energy information service, recently estimated Opec production for December at 29.8 million bpd.