The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says oil revenues of Iran and OPEC members reached $49 and $512 billion respectively in the first 11 months of this year.

Iran's oil income stood at about $82 billion in 2008.

The EIA also predicted that oil export earnings of 12 members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) would reach $575 billion this year, far lower than $965 billion in 2008.

Oil prices plunged to near $37 per barrel early this year from a record high of $147 per barrel in July 2008 because of the global financial crisis.

OPEC, which controls more than 70 percent of the global oil resources, provides about 40 percent of the global oil supplies.

OPEC revenue is projected to rebound to $759 billion in 2010 due to a rise in oil prices.

The Institute of International Finance also estimated that oil prices would reach about $72 a barrel in the next year compared with $60 in 2009.

DB/MTM/DT