* Keeps 2021 oil demand growth forecast at 5.95 mln bpd
* OPEC April output rises by 30,000 bpd on Iran
* Sees higher demand for its crude as Texas freeze hits US
supply
(Adds details on non-OPEC supply, demand, context, quote)
By Alex Lawler
LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - OPEC on Tuesday stuck to its
prediction of a strong recovery in world oil demand in 2021 as
growth in China and the United States counters the coronavirus
crisis in India, an outlook that bolsters the group's plan to
gradually ease output cuts.
In a monthly report, the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries said demand will rise by 5.95 million
barrels per day (bpd) this year, or 6.6%. The forecast was
unchanged from last month.
The report's optimism comes even as it warns of "significant
uncertainties," mainly around the pandemic, and as concern about
India weighs on oil prices. Crude LCOc1 fell after the report
was released but is still up 30% this year at near $68 a barrel.
"India is currently facing severe COVID-19-related
challenges and will therefore face a negative impact on its
recovery in the second quarter, but it is expected to continue
improving its momentum again in the second half of 2021,"
OPEC said in its monthly report.
India's seven-day average of new COVID cases hit a record
high on Tuesday. Oil refiners in the country - the third-largest
consumer - are reducing crude processing rates. In the report, OPEC cut its oil demand forecast for the
second quarter by 300,000 bpd, and raised its estimate for the
third quarter by 150,000 bpd and by 290,000 bpd for the last
three months of 2021.
OPEC now sees 2021 world economic growth at 5.5%, up from
5.4% last month, assuming the impact of the pandemic will have
been "largely contained" by the beginning of the second half.
"The recovery is very much leaning towards the second half,"
OPEC said.
LOWER NON-OPEC SUPPLY
OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, agreed in April to
gradually ease oil output cuts from May, after the new U.S.
administration called on Saudi Arabia to keep energy affordable
for consumers. The report also showed slightly higher OPEC oil output
already as Iran, exempt from making voluntary cuts due to U.S.
sanctions, pumped more in April, driving a 30,000 bpd rise in
the group's output to 25.08 million bpd.
OPEC+ cut supply by a record 9.7 million bpd last year to
support the market as demand collapsed. Most of those curbs
remain in place even after the April decision.
In the report, OPEC also raised its estimate of how much oil
it needs to pump this year, citing the impact on U.S. output of
the Texas freeze. Non-OPEC supply is now expected
to rise by 700,000 bpd, down from 930,000 bpd last month.
As a result, OPEC raised its estimate of global demand for
its crude to 27.7 million bpd this year, up 200,000 bpd from
last month and allowing for higher average OPEC production in
2021.
(Editing by Gabriela Baczynska and Carmel Crimmins)