MUSCAT, Oman, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Oman's Ministry of Oil and Gas said Monday the amount of crude oil produced in December was off from the same month in 2012.

The ministry said production in December averaged 944,736 barrels per day, a 1.24 percent decline year-on-year, the Times of Oman reported.


The report provided no explanation for the decline.

Crude oil exports from Oman in December declined 3.29 percent from the previous month, the Times reported.

Asian consumers received the bulk of Oman's produced oil in December, the report said.

Expanding economies in Asia mean those countries are starting to take on more oil and natural gas to keep up with demand.