Italy’s crude imports fell to just 1.05mn b/d for February, the lowest figure since 2014 as the country became the first European nation to get battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Italy is not only an important oil consumer in its own right, it is but also the location of several key refineries that serve the broader Mediterranean market. Not surprisingly, Italian imports from all major regions were down, but volumes from the Middle East were relatively resilient. (CONTINUED - 206 WORDS)