Irans four key Asian oil purchasers have increased their crude imports from Iran in April despite the Wests sanctions against the Islamic Republics energy sector.According to Reuters, government and tanker-tracking data indicate that China, India, Japan and South Korea imported 1.22 million bpd, up 6 percent from March and nearly twice year-on-year.
China, Iran's biggest oil customer, more than doubled its imports in April to a record of nearly 800,000 bpd compared with the same period last year.
India increased its purchase of Iranian crude in April more than 90 percent year-on-year to nearly 225,000 bpd.
Meanwhile, South Koreas import of Iranian oil last month was 135,000 bpd, showing a nine-percent rise above the same period last year.
Irans oil exports to Japan also soared over seven-fold to 56,934 bpd in April.
The West's sanctions on Iran have been imposed based on the accusation that Tehran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran denies the accusation.
The news comes as Tehran and Ankara have renewed a bilateral agreement on the export of Iranian oil to the Turkey.
On Friday, Mohsen Qamsari, the director for international affairs at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), pointed to the daily export of 100,000 to 110,000 barrels of Iranian crude to Turkey, saying The Turks have extended the oil contract with Iran.
The energy official pointed out that the volume of Irans oil exports to Turkey has remained unchanged.
By Press TV
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