SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Middle East crude market kicked off spot trading for December cargoes on a weak note with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's (ADNOC) grades trading at sharply lower premiums from a month ago, traders said on Tuesday. The drop in premiums was attributed to the sharp hike in official selling prices (OSP) by Middle East producers, after spot premiums last month rose to levels last seen in late 2011. TRADES: - ADNOC's December Murban crude was sold at a premium of 10-15 cents per barrel above the OSP, sharply down from the 90 cent premium seen last month. - December Lower Zakum, also an ADNOC grade, was traded at 18-20 cents premium to OSP, compared with 60 cents premium for the November cargo. Total may have sold the crude to SPC, traders said. - Marubeni sold an al-Shaheen cargo at a premium of $1.25 per barrel to Dubai quotes, while Maersk sold its cargo at $1.20 premium, traders said. The grade was traded last month at a premium of $1.8-$1.9 per barrel. - Traders said Qatar Marine may have also been traded at a discount to OSP, although that couldn't be confirmed. *MARKET NEWS - The Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) aims to revitalise its Oman crude futures contract by attracting major consumers and Middle East banks, rather than national oil company (NOC) producers in the region, its new chief executive said. - Russia's No. 2 oil producer Lukoil expects output growth to resume in 2013 at a rate of 1-1.5 percent, its chief executive, Vagit Alekperov, said The Russian producer, which has expanded abroad to offset declines in its West Siberian base, has forecast flat production for 2012. - China criticised the European Union for its new sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme, calling again for talks to resolve the stand-off. - Crude oil tanker earnings on the major Middle East route remained under pressure on Monday as slower business and a growing surplus of vessels took their toll. - Saudi Aramco plans to invest $35 billion over the next five years in projects to protect an oil production capacity cushion the world still relies on despite a shale oil boom and weak demand, its head said. CRUDE Price Prev Change DEC DME Oman diff to Dubai 0.74 0.77 -0.03 NOV Brent 115.84 114.34 +1.50 DEC Dubai 110.62 109.64 +0.98 DEC DME Oman 111.36 110.41 +0.95 NOV Brent/Dubai EFS DUB-EFS-1M 4.72 4.17 +0.55 PRODUCT CRACKS NOV fuel oil crack -9.47 -8.94 -0.53 NOV gasoil crack 18.18 18.84 -0.66 NOV naphtha crack -8.62 -8.78 +0.17 COMPLEX REFINERY MARGINS Today 7.91 Last 5 days 10.07 Last 365 days 7.38

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