GEORGETOWN, March 20 (Reuters) - Crude output in Guyana

rose to 648,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February from 620,000

bpd the previous month, the natural resources ministry said on

Thursday.

Oil production in the South American country, which is

controlled by a consortium led by Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), has been

growing consistently since 2019, when the group inaugurated

output, and is expected to surpass 900,000 bpd later this year.

(Reporting by Kemol King)