Kuwait's 6-month 09/10 budget surplus at $17.5 bln

KUWAIT, Nov 9 - OPEC member Kuwait logged a budget surplus of 4.99 billion dinars in the first six months of its 2009/10 fiscal year on higher than forecast oil revenue, official data showed on Monday.

Revenue of the world's fourth-largest oil exporter stood at 8.22 billion dinars at the end of September, about 112 percent of the forecast revenues for the whole fiscal year, according to figures posted on the finance ministry's website.

Oil revenue came in at 7.74 billion dinars and spending in the first six months to September 30 amounted to 3.23 billion dinars, the data showed.

The Gulf state's 2009/10 budget forecast a deficit of 4.85 billion dinars, assuming its crude, the main revenue earner, would fetch $35 a barrel.

Last month, Awan newspaper citing finance ministry officials said they expected a budget surplus of 9.75 billion dinars in the 2009/10 fiscal year if oil prices remain at current levels.