SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Official data show Iran’s crude oil exports to China soared to their second highest level in December 2012, in spite of US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic’s energy sector.
Reuters quoted customs figures as saying China imported nearly 593,390 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from Iran in December last year, up 3.6 percent from the preceding year and up 39 percent from November.
For the whole 2012, the highest level of China's crude imports from Iran stood at 633,000 bpd.
Industry officials in China attributed the enhancement in Iran’s crude oil exports to improvement in shipment.
A well-informed Chinese official was quoted as saying “The problems with delays have improved recently. The period of delay has become shorter and overall, less frequent.”
Iran is currently China's third largest supplier of crude, providing Beijing with roughly 12 percent of its total annual oil consumption.-www.shfaqna.com/English
