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Saudi January crude oil supply to China to rebound vs Dec, sources say

Saudi Arabia's petroleum supply to China is set to rebound to a threemonth high in January, trade sources stated on Thursday, thanks to price cuts by the world's leading exporter amid unpredictability over Iranian supplies.

State oil firm Saudi Aramco will deliver about 46 million barrels in January to China, a tally of allowances to Chinese refiners revealed, the highest volume considering that October and up from December's 36.5 million barrels.

China's state majors Sinopec, PetroChina will be lifting more Saudi crude in January, and non-state owned refiners Rongsheng Petrochemical and Shenghong Petrochemical will likewise increase lifting, the sources stated, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Saudi Aramco did not right away react to a demand for remark.

China's need for Saudi oil increased after Aramco cut its official asking price (OSPs) to Asia for two straight months.

On Sunday, the manufacturer cut the flagship Arab Light unrefined OSP to Asia by 80 cents per barrel in January to

the most affordable in 4 years.

The increased Saudi deliveries followed tighter supplies and greater costs from Iran, which triggered some independent refiners in China to seek more

non-Iranian freights

from the Middle East.

(source: Reuters)