Japan’s March oil imports from Iran highest since September 2016

摘要

Tokyo-Japan’s imports of Iranian oil jumped 48.8% year on year to 292,648 b/d in March,the highest level since September 2016,after local refiners boosted purchases to meet term contract requirements.Imports doubled from 135,013 b/d in February,when the Iranian barrels were imported for the first time in four months,according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry.The March imports were the highest since Japan imported 312,825 b/d of oil from Iran in September 2016,according to the METI data.In March,Iran was the third-largest crude supplier to Japan,accounting for 9.1% of total imports of 3.21 million b/d.Japan was among the eight countries that received waivers to keep buying Iran crude amid US sanctions that began in November.