Russian oil production remained near the post-Soviet record reached last month, as the collapse of crude prices since June has so far failed to visibly disrupt growth, and exports jumped. The country’s output dropped less than 0.1 percent from December to 10.657 million barrels a day, according to preliminary data e-mailed today from the Energy Ministry’s CDU-TEK group. Oil prices have fallen to the lowest since 2009 amid surging U.S. output and a November decision by OPEC to abandon its role as the global swing producer. Russia, which depends on the oil and natural gas industry for half of its budget, is on the brink of a recession, pressured by crude’s bear market and U.S. and European Union sanctions. Crude output will probably remain on par with 2014, although the current low prices present a risk, Energy Ministry Alexander Novak said last month, citing producers’ plans. Selling […]