OIL: Asia Crude Imports at Highest Since Start of Iran War

Asia's September crude imports rose to the highest since the Iran war started at 23.96mb/d but remained 13% below pre-conflict levels, * Asian imports have trended higher since falling in April to the lowest in more than 10 years at 19.15mb/d. Imports averaged 27.55mb/d for the three months to February. * Asia's imports from the Middle East were 12.56mb/d in September, up from 11.66mb/d in August and compared to the low of 7.12mb/d in April. Imports from the Middle East averaged 16.09mb/d for the three months to February. * Global crude imports from the Middle East are assessed at 14.7mb/d in September and not far off US Energy Secretary Chris Wright's claim of 15mb/d of exports at times. This is still 3mb/d below pre-war levels. * Asia's imports of light and middle distillates also showed some recovery in September to 5.84mb/d from 5.25mb/d in August but remain 1mb/d below pre-conflict levels.