Asian imports of Iran crude rise to 4-month high in April

TOKYO: Asian imports of Iranian crude rose 12% in April from the previous month to a four-month high of almost 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), topping a level allowed under economic sanctions aimed at Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.

Imports by Iran's four biggest buyers - China, India, Japan and South Korea - totalled 1.17 million bpd last month, down 4.1% on year and the highest since hitting 1.21 million bpd in December, government and tanker-tracking data showed.