Asked by reporters whether there was a consensus, Purnomo said: "No, not yet. The choice is whether to maintain it or cut the production."

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which controls half of global crude exports, will meet in Algiers on February 10 to review production policy for the second quarter.  Ministers are worried that a seasonal downturn in demand for oil at the end of the northern hemisphere winter will lead to a glut in supplies and a potential collapse in prices.

Opec would normally opt to reduce supply at this time of year to prevent any big build in oil stocks, but oil prices have been climbing steadily since September to 10-month peaks, a factor of concern to consumers who worry that high energy prices will dampen economic growth.

US crude was trading at $33.62 per barrel in Asia on Wednesday, down from the 10-month peak of $36.37.

Ministers from Iran, Algeria and Venezuela have said in recent days that Opec is unlikely to cut official production limits of 24.5 million barrels per day, which excludes Iraq.

Following the Algiers' meeting, the Middle East-dominated producers' group is scheduled to meet again in Vienna on March 31.  Opec said in a monthly oil market report on January 21 that it expected demand for its oil in the second quarter to drop three million bpd below its December production.