Cheap freight, OPEC boost Asia use of W.Africa oil

LONDON May 14 (Reuters) - Low freight rates and production cuts by Middle Eastern OPEC oil exporters have led to a big rise in sales of West African crude oil to Asia over the last two months, a Reuters survey shows.

Forty-five supertankers are sailing east from West African ports this month carrying around 43 million barrels, or about 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd), of crude oil to refineries in India, China and elsewhere in east Asia, the survey of a dozen oil trading firms shows.

Even more West African crude oil headed to Asia in April with around 35 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) just going to Chinese buyers. The total for cargoes going to China last month has been revised upwards from a previous estimate of 24 after a review of industry data.

One third of all the crude oil exported from West and central African countries this month has been sold to Asian buyers, the survey shows, and last month the final total was as high as 38 percent of the approximately 4.25 million bpd produced by the region.

A preliminary survey of cargoes heading east that are due to load in June suggests the movement east next month could be just as high as in May with 35-40 cargoes reported to have been committed already to Asian buyers. (Reporting by Christopher Johnson; editing by Sue Thomas)