Kuwait is set to almost double its budget surplus in 2005-6, reaping up to $18.5 billion on the back of strong oil prices and high output, an independent economic report said.

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) said it expected the price of Kuwait export crude to range between $40.9 and $46.5 a barrel for the year starting April 1.
The emirate is forecast to post record revenues of between $35.6 billion and $41 billion over the year, giving a surplus of between $13 billion and $18.5 billion, NBK said.
NBK forecast oil revenues at between $33.2 billion and $38.7 billion.
Kuwait is currently pumping at full capacity of 2.7 million barrels per day (bpd), almost 500,000 bpd above its Opec production quota.
Preliminary figures for Kuwait's financial results in 2004-5 which ended on March 31 show revenues at around $30 billion and the budget surplus at about $10 billion.
The 2005-6 budget forecasts a deficit of $7.9 billion, with projected revenues of $15.6 billion and spending of $23.5 billion.
Budget figures are based on a conservative oil price projection of $21 a barrel, compared with current market prices well above $50.