China’s imports of crude oil from Russia fell 5.9% in May from a year earlier to 8.38 million metric tons or 1.97 million barrels per day, Chinese customs data showed on Friday.

Russian supply to China rose on a monthly basis by 3.8%, up from 8.07 million bpd in April.

Imports from Malaysia, the biggest trans-shipment hub for sanctioned Iranian oil, reached 5.07 million tons in May, or 1.19 million bpd, down 36.2% from April, also down 13.3% year-on-year.

Imports from Saudi Arabia, the second-largest supplier to China in May, were down 27.1% year-on-year in May, at 5.42 million tons or 1.28 million bpd.

Imports from Brazil surged 42% in May from a year earlier to 4.77 million metric tons or 1.13 million barrels per day.

Customs recorded no imports from Iran and Venezuela in May.

China’s total crude oil imports stood at 46.6 million tons in May or 10.97 million bpd, lower than April and down 0.8% from a year earlier as maintenance at both state-owned and independent refineries curbed operations.
Source: Reuters