The oil price of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) climbed to 72.17 dollars at the middle of the week, the group announced Thursday, owing to a drop in US stocks, DPA reported.

The basket price of OPEC-produced crude rose 1.33 dollars per barrel (159 litres) Wednesday.

US crude oil stocks decreased by 3.7 million barrels to 332.4 million barrels last week, according to the country's Energy Information Administration, and distillates inventories also dropped.

OPEC revised Tuesday's price to 70.84 dollars, from the initial quote of 70.79 dollars.