China Continues Buying Iranian Crude, But Volume Is Down. Iran Calls for More

China taking in 200,000 barrels a day, down from 500,000 before May

Zhuhai Zhenrong and China National Petroleum Corporation are the only two remaining buyers of Iranian crude in the world. Most Chinese importers ceased buying after May sanctions exception ended

Chinese crude shipments from Iran were 855,638 tons last month, or 208,205 barrels per day (bpd), customs data showed. Imports continued despite Washington’s ending of exemptions given to Beijing for buying Iran’s crude in May.

The imports were, however, almost 60 percent down from a year earlier.

A total of 670,000 tons (about 163,000 bpd) of Iranian crude oil was discharged in June at Tianjin in north China and Jinzhou in the northeast, according to assessments by Refinitiv Oil Research. Another 430,000 tons of Iranian crude oil was discharged in July at Jinzhou and Huizhou in South China.

Last week, Washington blacklisted Chinese company Zhuhai Zhenrong which is the largest buyer of Iranian oil in the world. The company’s CEO Youmin Li was also placed on the US blacklist.

Exports of Iranian crude oil have been put in jeopardy since the White House re-imposed sanctions on Iran in November last year, demanding all countries stop importing oil from the country.

Tehran said it will defy the sanctions and continue to export oil. In April, Washington said it will end Iran sanction waivers which have been granted to China, India, Greece, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, Turkey, and South Korea to ensure low oil prices and avoid disruption to the global oil market. The decision to end waivers “is intended to bring Iran’s oil exports to zero,” Washington said, warning that countries which continue to buy Iranian crude after the May 2 deadline will risk facing US sanctions.

Tehran has already admitted that tighter US restrictions had affected exports although the country’s authorities insist they will continue to sell crude through unconventional methods.

China has criticized Washington’s use of sanctions against other states, designating them as a form of “bullying.” Beijing said it would keep its trade and energy ties with Tehran despite the fact that several major Chinese companies have been affected by US sanctions over their role in energy imports from Iran.

Source: RT


Chinese imports of Iranian oil dropped nearly 60% in June compared to the previous year after the US reinstated its sanctions against the Islamic Republic in May.

Iranian Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has urged its leading economic partner China and other Iranian allies to purchase more Iranian crude, the oil ministry news website SHANA reported on Monday.

“Even though we are aware that allies such as China are facing some restrictions, we expect them to be more active in buying Iranian oil”, Jahangiri told visiting senior Chinese diplomat Song Tao as quoted by the news agency.

The official noted that the US is trying to create an impression that it can bring Iranian oil sales to zero, which would lead to the collapse of the country’s economy, but fortunately, despite a year under a US oil embargo the economic situation in Iran is stable.

Source: Sputnik

2 Comments
  1. John C Carleton says

    China is on China’s side.
    Would not trust China anymore than Russia, UK or the USA.

    1. DarkEyes says

      Well nothing abnormal here. AFter all, we are living in the “ME” age.
      We give a toss about the others.
      Do we speak up for the Palestinian people?
      Do we speak up for the Syrian, Iraqis, AFghanis, Yemenis, Iranians?

      Not one word of protest. Everybody is impressed by the Zionists.
      It is an egoistic world. One for ME and all for ME!

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