*China imported almost 2.1mn b/d of crude from Saudi Arabia in November, according to data intelligence firm Kpler, a figure only previously topped in May and June this year.

*These bumper November volumes look sufficient to again put Saudi ahead in the neck-and-neck race with Russia to be China’s top 2020 crude supplier (MEES, 27 November). China’s seaborne imports from Russia fell by 80,000 b/d to 673,000 b/d for November though figures for China’s overland imports from Russia, which are typically similar in magnitude to seaborne volumes, are not yet available. (CONTINUED - 248 WORDS)