*Japan’s crude and condensate imports of 2.50mn b/d for Q1 were down 16% year-on-year but this was nevertheless the highest quarterly figure since Q1 last year.

*With volumes from the Middle East down slightly less than those from elsewhere the region’s market share rose to 92.5%, fractionally down on the record 92.6% set in Q2 last year (see table). (CONTINUED - 204 WORDS)