China-Kuwait crude oil exports reach 190,000BPD

Kuwait's crude oil exports to China in the first two months of 2013 stood at 1.5 million tons, equivalent to around 186, 000 barrels per day (bpd), the latest government data showed. Kuwait supplied 3.3 percent of China's crude oil in the January-February period, according to the General Administration of Customs. In February alone, Kuwait's shipments to the world's second-biggest energy market fell 57.3 percent on the year to 108,000 bpd. China's overall imports of crude oil in February slid 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 5.44 million bpd. Saudi Arabia remained China's top supplier, although its shipments plunged 27.9 percent to 1.04 million bpd, followed by Angola with 692,000 bpd, down 14. 9 percent. Oman came third with imports from the country surging 66.5 percent to 589, 000 bpd. China, Iran's top oil buyer, imported 524,000 bpd of oil last month, up 74. 4 percent, despite sanctions by the U.S. and the EU on the nation's oil sales. (