China's May Iran crude imports up 36%, 2nd highest on record

BEIJING: China's Iranian crude oil imports expanded 36% in May from a year ago to the second highest on record, customs data showed on Monday, and imports in the first five months of 2014 gained nearly 50% over the same year-ago period.

China, Tehran's largest oil client, has since late 2013 been stepping up purchases from the OPEC country after a landmark November nuclear deal eased some sanctions on Iran, making up the main portion of Asia's higher imports since then.