Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) said talks broke down in acrimony on Wednesday without an agreement to raise output after Saudi Arabia failed to convince the cartel to lift production.

Immediately, oil prices jumped by $2, raising fears of supply shortages later this year and a price rally that could damage global economic recovery. 

By 1355 GMT US light crude was up $1.40 at $100.50 while Brent added $1.08 at $117.86.

'It came as a surprise. It is bullish for prices. If you look at demand it will be very robust in the next months and there is a big need for extra Opec oil,' said Amrita Sen from Barclays Capital.

'Unfortunately we are unable to reach a consensus to reduce or raise production,' Opec secretary general Abdullah El-Badri told reporters.

'This is one of the the worst meetings we have ever had,' said Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi.

Naimi said 6 countries in the 12-member group were opposed to an increase in output.

He said Gulf countries had proposed an increase to 30.3 million barrels a day, compared to current supply of about 29 million bpd, including Iraq which is not bound by an Opec quota.

El-Badri said the effective decision was no change in policy but that he hoped Opec would meet again in three months time.

Naimi said the next meeting would be on December 14. The failure to reach an agreement will be a blow for industrialised consumer countries hoping Opec would take action to stem fuel inflation.

Brent crude rose $1.64 a barrel to $118.42. No date has been set for another meeting.

Gulf delegates said Iran, Venezuela and Algeria were among those to refuse to consider an output increase.

Non-Gulf delegates said Saudi Arabia had proposed an increase on top of April supplies that was too high for them to contemplate.

Naimi said Saudi was committed to supplying market needs. Earlier in the week a Gulf official said Saudi was already raising output by at least 500,000 bpd in June to 9.5-9.7 million bpd.

Saudi output was last as high in the middle of 2008 after oil prices set a record $147 a barrel, shortly before recession sent prices crashing. Forecasts suggest more oil is required to stop oil prices rising again.

Opec's Vienna secretariat sees demand in the second half of the year 1.7 million bpd higher than current cartel output.-Reuters