The annual figures again put Russia roughly on a par with Saudi Arabia, the world's largest single producer. In December alone, Russian oil output reached 39.44 million tons, an increase of 2.6 percent by comparison with December of 2003, the ministry said. Oil major Yukos remained Russia's largest producer in 2004 with 85.7 million tons despite a huge legal dispute with the state that resulted in the auctioning off its primary production unit, Yuganskneftegas, last month. It was followed by LUKoil with 84.1 million tons in second place and the Russian-British group TNK-BP in third place with 70.3 million tons. PIN/AFP