Saudi Arabia to keep first-quarter crude exports at around 7 million bpd: sources

By Rania El Gamal

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia plans to keep its crude oil exports at around 7 million barrels per day for the first quarter despite planned refinery shutdowns, industry sources said, as the OPEC producer is determined to end a supply glut and boost prices.

The world's top oil exporter aims to hold its production at around 9.8 million bpd level from January until March, the sources said.

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal; editing by Jason Neely)