MOSCOW - Russia's oil production amounted to 38.3m tons in August 2004, which was 8.2 percent higher than in August 2003, the Federal Statistics Service reported.

Associated gas production surged 4.3 percent to 3.3bn cubic meters last month.

Gasoline production advanced 2.4 percent to 2.6m tons.

Some 4.6m tons of diesel fuel were produced this August.

The country's oil output, including gas condensate, amounted to 303m tons in January to August 2004, which was 9.9 percent higher than in the corresponding period of last year.