Tehran, Feb 13, IRNA -- Imports of Iranian crude rose by 100,000 barrels a day last month, with China, Japan and India taking more oil as a deal easing sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program took effect, the International Energy Agency said in a report on Thursday according to Bloomberg.
Purchasing countries received 1.32 million barrels a day last month, said the IEA, a Paris-based adviser to 28 nations. An increase in the number of barrels shipped to the three Asian importers more than made up for reduced deliveries to South Korea, Syria and Taiwan, the agency said. An interim accord easing restrictions on insurance for Iran’s oil shipments and freeing up cash held outside the country in return for Iran’s more cooperation to address Western concerns over its nuclear program went into effect last month. Under the agreement, six buyers permitted under US sanctions to take Iranian crude don’t have to cut imports to avoid penalties.
Iran had an estimated 30 million barrels of crude held on tankers at the end of January, including 6 million barrels in vessels off China’s coast, according to the report. Total production rose by 30,000 barrels to 2.78 million last month, as cold winter weather in Iran boosted domestic fuel use. The country, which this week celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, wants to renew ties with foreign companies, the IEA said. The six buyers permitted to import Iranian crude under US sanctions are Turkey, China, Japan, India, South Korea and Taiwan. The crude buyers are still barred from increasing purchases, and no other states can take Iranian oil, according to the US sanctions.