Japan’s overall crude imports of 2.737mn b/d for August, Middle East volumes of 2.512mn b/d, and the 2.307mn b/d from Opec countries were all at their highest respective level since March 2020. But volumes remain well down on typical pre-Covid levels: average 2019 imports were 3.02mn b/d, including 2.69mn b/d from the Middle East.
The UAE was top supplier with 1.083mn b/d for August (1.067mn b/d from Abu Dhabi), the fourth month this year that the UAE has pipped Saudi (1.010mn b/d for August) for top spot. Abu Dhabi’s Murban was the top grade for August with 608,000 b/d, the second highest figure on record behind April’s 660,000 b/d. (CONTINUED - 141 WORDS)