Obaid bin Saif al-Nasseri told a news conference the producers group would discuss production curbs, which have raised oil prices dramatically, at its ministerial meeting in Vienna in March -- ``not now.''

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and other members have suggested that the cartel might extend the more than two million barrels per day (bpd) of supply curbs beyond their expiry at the end of March.

OPEC and other producers are trying to build on the success of the production cuts, which rescued oil prices from below $10 last year and have given the cartel renewed clout in the market.

Stronger prices have raised questions over whether producers would consider changing production policy but OPEC ministers have repeatedly said the cuts would remain in place until the end of March.

Recent independent surveys showed that compliance with the supplycurbs, a key factor watched by the world oil market, slipped in September, driving down prices recently.

Nasseri said compliance with the cuts was still high and that producers were serious about abiding by the agreement, adding it was in the interest of all producers to show production discipline.

Oil prices recovered early losses to end stronger on Friday, with the markets remaining volatile as they try to balance signs of erosion in global oil stocks against hints that OPEC discipline was slipping.

World benchmark Brent blend crude oil futures last traded 61 cents up at $22.50 a barrel on London's International Petroleum Exchange, helped by stronger US Heating oil.

Nasseri predicted higher demand in the peak winter months would improve prices.

``Prices will be better than what we saw last year or the start of this year,'' he said.