VOL. XXXIII

NO. 28

16-APRIL-1990

Supply/ Demand

Japan's Imports of Middle East Crude Rose by 14% in 1989

Japan's imports of Middle East crude oil rose by 14% last year, from 2.25mnb/d in 1988 to 2.57mn b/d in 1989, according to official statistics. Highincreases were registered by Iran (55%), Iraq (26%) and Kuwait (19%), but imports from Saudi Arabia slipped back marginally by 1.7%. The Middle Eastaccounted for 71% of Japan's crude oil imports in 1989, as against 67% in1988.

At the same time, the...