RIYADH: Stronger-than-expected global oil demand should help support crude prices at around $55-$60 a barrel in the next two months despite some signs of a growing glut in the United States,˝ a senior Gulf OPEC delegate told Reuters on Tuesday.

The comments appear to counter some market forecasts that the US oil glut may push prices to as low as $20-$30 and are a sign that the core Gulf OPEC members remain confident about their strategy of defending market share.

"Global demand is definitely growing much stronger than expected. In December, January, and especially February ˝it was beyond what forecasts anticipated," the delegate said.

Low oil prices may have encouraged demand to pick up particularly in the United States but also in Asia, the Gulf delegate added.

Oil prices are expected to fluctuate around $55-$60 a barrel through April, when they may come under pressure because of seasonal refinery maintenance and rising stocks in the United States, the Gulf OPEC delegate said.

Underlining brimming US supplies, crude stocks rose nearly three times as much as expected, as storage at the Cushing, Oklahoma oil hub reached a new record, a government report showed last week.

"There are still uncertainties, prices will stay fluctuating around 55-60 dollars," the delegate said.

"If you look at the US, it's really tough, stockpiling is rising. But if you look at the international market, stocks are on the higher side but they are still within the five-year average."

Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi said on Sunday the top oil-exporting country is producing around 10 million barrels per day (bpd), indicating higher demand is helping the Kingdom claw back market share.

The Gulf OPEC delegate said rising production reflects increasing exports to meet global demand as well as growing local needs.

"Increased production is due to two reasons: Sales for the international market reflecting stronger demand from customers, not anything else, and local needs with the new refineries online," the Gulf delegate said.

Saudi Arabia tends to raise production in the summer months, when the Kingdom uses more crude in local power plants to meet air-conditioning needs.

Official data showed Saudi crude exports rose in January to 7.474 million bpd, the highest since at least April 2014, while volumes refined domestically remained high.

Brent crude oil fell on Tuesday as the dollar regained its footing against the euro and fears of global oversupply persisted, while US crude's losses were limited by strong domestic economic data.

The fall in Brent came after the dollar reversed early losses to rise 0.4 percent against the euro, making dollar-priced commodities more expensive in the euro zone.

Brent futures for May delivery fell 80 cents to trade at $55.10 at 11:43 EDT (1643 GMT). US crude oil was down 15 cents down at $47.30.

US crude stocks, already at their highest in at least 80 years, were forecast to have risen for an 11th record-breaking week, a preliminary Reuters survey showed.

Six analysts, polled ahead of weekly inventory reports from industry group the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the US Energy Information Administration, turned in an average forecast for a crude stock build of 5 million barrels last week.

In the week to March 13, US crude stocks rose nearly three times as much as expected.