FACTBOX: OPEC comments ahead of Sept meeting

(Reuters) - The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) next meets on September 9 in Vienna.

It last met formally in March, although the world's biggest crude exporter Saudi Arabia called emergency talks in Jeddah in June and announced it would unilaterally increase production to try to calm prices.

They went on to hit a record of $147.27 on July 11, but in August fell to a low below $112 a barrel, the weakest level since early May.

Saudi Arabia said it would pump 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in July, although industry consultant Petrologistics said the kingdom had only supplied 9.47 million bpd. In August, the consultant expected Saudi Arabia's output to fall to 9.45 million bpd.

Most commentators have predicted OPEC will leave formal output targets unchanged at its September meeting.

In its latest monthly report, released on August 15, OPEC trimmed its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2008 for a fifth month. It said production was more than adequate, meaning there was "potential for a sharp build in crude oil inventories."

But it also said risks of disruption persisted and it would continue to monitor supply and demand in the run up to the September meeting.

IRAN, SEPT 1

Iran's OPEC governor said on Monday the group could agree to cut output because oil prices have fallen.

"In view of the drop in oil prices, there is this possibility that OPEC would approve an output cut in its upcoming meeting in Vienna," Mohammad Ali Khatibi was quoted as saying by the Mehr News Agency.

IRAN, AUG 31

Iran's Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said $100 for a barrel of crude was the lowest appropriate level.

"This is the least price for oil," he was quoted as saying by the ministry website SHANA.

LIBYA, AUG 29

Libya's top oil official said he thought OPEC would hold oil output steady.

"At this point, we do not see necessarily a change," Shokri Ghanem, chairman of Libya's National Oil Corporation, told Reuters. "We will look at the market, whether it is well supplied or not."