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Kuwait''s crude oil exports to Japan at highest in 3 years

(With photo) TOKYO, April 27 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's crude oil exports to Japan in March rose to the highest level in three years to 1.67 million barrels, or 339,000 barrels per day (bpd), up 45.4 percent from a year earlier, the government said Friday.
Kuwait's shipments to Japan saw the second straight month of growth and the highest monthly volume since April 2009, when it shipped 1.68 million barrels (353,000 bpd).
Kuwait overtook Iran to become Japan's fourth-biggest oil supplier last month, providing 8.1 percent of the country's total crude imports, compared with 6.2 percent in the same month of 2011 and 7.4 percent in February, the Japanese Natural Resources and Energy Agency said in a preliminary report.
Japan's overall imports of crude oil grew 11.3 percent year-on-year to 4.21 million bpd for the second consecutive monthly expansion. Shipments from the Middle East edged up 0.4 percent to 3.45 million bpd, and accounted for 82.0 percent of the total. Saudi Arabia remained Japan's top oil supplier, with imports from the kingdom growing 14.4 percent from a year earlier to 1.38 million bpd, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 814,000 bpd, down 10.5 percent. Qatar ranked third with 399,000 bpd, down 5.7 percent.
Resources-poor Japan is the world's third-largest oil consumer after China and the US. The country is buying more fossil fuels to meet electricity demand as nearly all the 54 nuclear reactors have shut down following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in March last year. (end) mk.gta KUNA 271250 Apr 12NNNN