	pemex official says opec output critical to price  oil prices could remain around dlrs a barrel until the end of the year but opec s decision on output at its next meeting would be the critical factor an official of mexico s state oil company petroleos mexicanos pemex told a group of japanese businessmen adrian lajous pemex executive vice president of international trade said current opec output already appeared to be very near the mln barrel per day level it set itself for the third quarter production is surging ahead of what was originally planned while demand is growing more slowly than envisaged a few months ago he said he said opec had to look very carefully at what level of production in the third quarter would effectively sustain the dlrs price and that an increase to what had originally been envisaged might soften price levels the member cartel is scheduled to meet on june in vienna to review its december accord on prices and output i hope opec will follow a very conservative attitude in terms of volume decisions lajous said a repetition of what happened last year when opec boosted output and sent oil prices tumbling down below dlrs is always there as a possibility he said i hope never again to go through the trauma of i expect other oil exporters have learned their lessons and discipline will be maintained he said lajous said there was still excess supply and as long as this remains there will be a tendency to instability in oil markets but prices should remain around to dlrs during if output remains under control he said saudi king fahd s remarks last month that increased production was not so important as long as incomes would not be affected by the output were very relevant and welcome from such a powerful producer reuter 
