*Taiwan imported 761,000 b/d of crude for March, a 12% month-on-month increase and the highest monthly figure since August last year. Imports were also up 14% quarter-on-quarter to 710,000 b/d but this remains significantly down on pre-Covid levels. Imports are only now showing signs of gradual recovery following the strict lockdowns which followed the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
*Imports from the Middle East were up 21% month-on-month to 566,000 b/d for March, the highest since July last year, while the region’s share of overall imports edged up to 74.5%. On a quarterly basis imports from the region increased by 17% quarter-on-quarter from 4Q 2020’s record low 431,000 b/d, while its share also inched up to 71.2% from the previous quarter’s record low 69.2% (see chart). (CONTINUED - 367 WORDS)
