Latest News

Asia's crude oil imports hit 12-month high, however it's India, not China: Russell

Asia's imports of crude oil increased to the highest in 12 months in May, with the strength being driven by India as the region's secondbiggest purchaser is on track to see record arrivals.

The world's top crude importing region is expected to have arrivals of 27.81 million barrels per day (bpd), up from 26.89 million bpd in April, according to information compiled by LSEG Oil Research.

That's a boost of 920,000 bpd month-on-month, with the bulk of the gain being represented by India, where imports are anticipated to rise to an all-time high of 5.26 million bpd, up 710,000 bpd from April's 4.55 million bpd.

In contrast to the strength in India, imports by China, the world's greatest unrefined importer, continued to trend weaker, with May arrivals slated at 10.72 million bpd, down from 10.93 million bpd in April, and the lowest on a daily basis since January.

Asia's number 3 and four oil importers, South Korea and Japan, saw May imports at roughly the exact same levels as April, with South Korea's 2.87 million bpd down slightly from April's 2.91 million bpd, while Japan's May arrivals of 2.38 million bpd were a little up from the previous month's 2.31 million bpd.

Asia's imports for May were also softer than the 28.47 million bpd recorded by LSEG in the very same month last year.

In the very first 5 months of the year, Asia's crude arrivals averaged 27.19 million bpd, according to LSEG information, which is just marginally higher than the 27.09 million bpd from the exact same duration in 2023.

Within the constant image that is emerging for Asia's crude imports up until now this year, it's worth noting the contrasting fortunes of India and China.

Part of India's robust performance can be credited to a. strong economy, with gdp broadening by 8.4% in. the 3 months to December.

While the speed of growth may have eased in the quarter to. end-March, it's still most likely to be around 7%, which is high. enough to drive increased demand for transportation fuels through. increased production and increasing lorry sales.

India's election procedure, which is taking place over several. weeks up to June 1 and sees nearly 1 billion eligible voters, is. likewise most likely to have offered a one-off increase to sustain demand.

A more aspect supporting India's crude oil imports is the. continuous accessibility of reduced Russian crude, with arrivals. from the Western-sanctioned nation being pegged by LSEG at 1.96. million bpd in May, up from 1.60 million bpd in April.

This provides Russia a 38% share of India's imports, nearly. double the next greatest provider Iraq, which offered 1.09. million bpd in May.

CHINA IMPORTS

Russia was likewise the biggest provider to China in May, with. imports of 2.02 million bpd for a share of 18.1%, although this. was down a little from April's 2.10 million bpd.

China's second-biggest provider in May was Saudi Arabia,. with imports from the leading OPEC+ member estimated at 1.81. million bpd, up from 1.58 million bpd.

However, China may trim imports from the kingdom in June. after state-controlled oil company Saudi Aramco increased its. main asking price for a fifth straight month.

Greater oil prices might also end up being more of a factor in coming. months, considered that May's imports were likely protected previously. crude's rally from mid-March to mid-April.

International criteria Brent crude futures rose from. $ 81.08 a barrel on March 11 to a six-month high of $92.18 on. April 12.

It's throughout this period that the bulk of freights showing up in. June would have been arranged, while May arrivals would have. been purchased when Brent was lower during February and early. March.

Nevertheless, signs of more powerful economic growth in Asia may act. as a spur to rising oil need and outweigh the effect of increasing. crude costs.

The viewpoints expressed here are those of the author, a writer. .

(source: Reuters)