"Saudi Arabia and Russia have really embarked on this strategy to support the market," Patrick Pouyanne told reporters on the sidelines of the Oil & Money conference

A visit by the Saudi king to Moscow recently "is a clear signal (that) it is in the interest of both countries to support the market ... I will not be surprised to see the extension," he said.

OPEC and several non-OPEC producers agreed late last year on a six-month deal from January to reduce production in order to tackle a global supply glut. The deal has been extended until March 2018.

(Reporting by Ron Bousso. Editing by Jane Merriman)