Kuwait crude oil exports to China at 170,000 per barrels

Kuwait's crude oil exports to China in January stood at 705,300 tons, equivalent to around 170,000 barrels per day (bpd), the latest government data showed. The shipments fell 35.2 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs. China's overall imports of crude oil rose 11.9 percent in January year on year to a record 28.16 million ton (6.66 million bpd). Saudi Arabia remained China's top supplier last month, although its shipments declined 8.6 percent to 1.2 million bpd, followed by Angola with 911, 000 bpd, up 5.4 percent. Oman became third with imports from the country surging 61.2 percent to 664, 000 bpd. Iran ranked fourth and Iraq fifth, respectively. China is the world's second-largest oil consumer after the US and became the largest global energy consumer in 2010. Earlier this month, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said it projects China is likely to surpass the U.S. in net oil imports on an annual basis by 2014 as U.S. oil production and Chinese oil demand "increase simultaneously." The Middle East remains China's largest source of crude oil imports, supplying 52 percent last year, according to the EIA.