Latest Italian crude import data also show a slump in Gulf supplies. Imports from Saudi Arabia for March (37,500 b/d) and April (56,800 b/d) are the two lowest figures since at least 2009 and compare to an average of 145,000 b/d for 2018.

Kuwait ramped up sales to Italy from late 2015, never missing more than one month in a row between late 2015 and end-2018. But volumes have been zero since the start of 2019. (CONTINUED - 152 WORDS)