Saudi Arabia's crude oil output was 9.8 million barrels per day in February steady with January and is seen continuing at current levels despite recent efforts by some countries to switch to crude from the kingdom ahead of stifling sanctions on Iran and its exports later this year.

"Output was largely unchanged at 9.8 million barrels per day…it would likely remain around this level in the short term," a senior Saudi oil official told Dow Jones Newswires.

According to a Dow Jones Newswires survey published earlier this month, the world's largest oil exporter produced 9.8 million barrels per day in February, up from 9.625 million barrels per day a month earlier, levels not seen in three decades.

As the European Union draws ever closer to imposing a full blown oil embargo on the Iran, Japan and Spain have reduced their imports of Iranian crude by 12% and 37% respectively, neither country has given potential sanctions as a reason for switching producers.

Officials from the Gulf state have said that oil exports from the kingdom have surged to a record high of above 9 million barrels per day as some customers are preparing for the Iranian sanctions.

They said that despite the surge in exports and the rush by customers of Iran to sign new supply deals with rival producers, the kingdom's production is unlikely to see a dramatic change.

"Just because our exports rose dramatically in one week in February, it does not mean that output was also hiked. We are still producing around 9.8 million barrels per day and the rise in exports could have come from storage for instance," a senior Saudi oil official said.

Saudi Arabia 's output rose dramatically in November to 10.047 million barrels a day-the highest level in three decades--from 9.362 million barrels a day a month earlier on higher demand from Asia .

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi has previously said that the Gulf state isn't seeking to replace Iranian crude should foreign sanctions be imposed on Iran , but it can "almost immediately" ramp up production by about 2 million barrels a day if customers want more oil.

"It would take a major oil shock for Saudi to ramp up output such as a deterioration in the Iran situation and/or if Israel were to attack," said Michael Hewson, Market Analyst at U.K. spreadbettor CMC Markets.

"It is very sensible of Saudi Arabia keep current output where it is, there is no shortage of oil at the moment, Brent prices are only as high as they are because of geopolitical issues... at the moment there is no actual supply shortage in oil markets," he said.

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