Ignoring calls from the United States and other consuming countries to pump more oil into the global economy, the OPEC oil cartel is expected to keep its output unchanged when the group’s ministers meet in Vienna on Friday.

With the United States seemingly heading toward a recession and global stock markets gyrating, OPEC is not contemplating an increase in oil production. In fact, it thinks it might soon have to cut its output to offset a seasonal demand slowdown in the spring.

As an indication of just how difficult their position is, representatives from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries met two months ago in Abu Dhabi and could not resolve a debate over whether to add more oil to the market. The group is scheduled to meet again next month at its secretariat in Vienna. At that point, energy analysts say the cartel is likely to cut output.

Friday’s meeting comes as economic troubles worsen in the United States. A decision not to raise output would most likely be seen as a rebuke to President Bush, who pleaded with King Abdullah, the Saudi monarch, last month to take action to help ease the effects of high oil prices on American consumers.