LONDON: Iran’s oil exports hit 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, the Oil Ministry’s news agency SHANA reported on Tuesday, a new record since the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran in January 2016.
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) also exported 200,000 bpd of natural gas condensate in April, SHANA reported, adding that China and India bought more than half of Iran’s oil in April.
Iran emerged from years of economic isolation in January 2016 when world powers led by the United States and world powers lifted crippling sanctions against OPEC’s No.3 oil producer in return for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
However, US President Donald Trump has given Britain, France and Germany a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as flaws of the nuclear deal. Failing that, he has said will reimpose sanctions on Tehran.
Worries that Trump might pull out of the nuclear deal has increased global oil prices in recent weeks.
Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said in April that Iran’s total crude and condensate exports stood at 2.5 million bpd in March.
Iran has been striving to retain customers for its oil in Asia, hoping concessions will boost the appeal of its crude compared with other Middle Eastern suppliers.
Source: Brecorder
