Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi confirmed on Friday the kingdom will be pumping 9.7 million barrels per day of crude in July.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-mon said on Sunday that Naimi had given him that figure, the kingdom's fastest production since 1981, when the two met.

"He quoted me right - that's old news now," Naimi told reporters. Asked if Saudi Arabia would increase by more than that he said: "We'll be giving out new information in the next day or two."

It was not clear whether Naimi was referring to a further increase in oil output. The kingdom will host a meeting of producers and consumers for June 22 to prove its commitment to market stability.

The increase in Saudi production to 9.7 million bpd in July represents 550,000 bpd more oil, an over 6 percent increase, since May.-Reuters