TEHRAN -- The price of Iranian crude oil has averaged $23.5 per barrel since early this year, said Acting Deputy Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Hojatollah Ghanimifard said here on Saturday.

Ghanimifard told IRNA that the price for each barrel of Iranian crude for delivery at the mouth of Suez Canal stood at about $22.61 early this year, up by five dollars compared to the early winter last year.

He said that Iran's crude for delivery at the mouth of the Suez Canal reached its highest level of $25.5 per barrel in spring this year.

According to the official, at the end of spring, the price of Iran's light crude for delivery at the mouth of the Suez Canal fell below $23 per barrel. The decline was due to oversupply of the crude oil on the market, return of tranquility to Venezuela and resumption of Iraqi oil exports.

Statistics released by different sources indicate that the the OPEC members' adherence to their quotas averaged 80 percent in the winter season.

The figure for mid-winter reached its highest, i.e. about 83 percent, and in certain months fell below 80percent, said Ghanimifard.

Preliminary statistics show that adherence of the OPEC members to their production quotas in spring season was about 75percent, said Ghanimifard, adding that this shows that market has not been facing any shortage in terms of oil supply.

Ghanimifard said that in the first three months of the year (started March 21) export of oil derivatives from Iran showed a 23.5percent growth compared to the similar period the previous year.

He said the main reason for the price hike was the export of gas condensates obtained from phases two and three of South Pars Gas Field.

He added that in the first three months of this year Iran imported about $140 million worth of gasoline.