*South Korea, the world’s number four crude importer, took 2.87mn b/d for Q1, up 3% on Q4 2023 but down fractionally year-on-year and well below the record 3mn b/d-plus quarterly levels hit on several occasions over 2017-19 (see chart & table). As such, notwithstanding the Covid-related demand swings since, it looks safe to say that Korea has passed its oil demand peak.