Iran Press/Asia: The highest previous monthly level was 3.28 million mt, recorded in August.
The March volume rose 6.2% from February on a barrels-per-day basis, despite dropping by a quarter from the same month of last year, Reuters reported.
China did not import US-origin crude oil in March after taking its first cargo since December in February, which was 85,841 mt.
But the inflow is expected to rebound significantly in April as refiners from both the state-run and independent sectors have US crude arrivals coming.
The White House has threatened buyers of Iranian crude oil with sanctions if they fail to stop their purchases by May 1, ending six months of waivers which allowed Tehran’s eight largest customers to continue importing limited volumes.
Saudi Arabia and several US allies claimed that they can replace the lost barrels.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the kingdom would work with other oil producers to “ensure adequate supplies are available to consumers while ensuring the global oil market does not go out of balance.”
Iran has said it will not allow any country to replace its oil sales in the global market.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow any country to replace Iran in the oil market. The United States and those countries will be responsible for any consequences," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said. 101/211/202
Read More:
Saudi, UAE overstate their oil capacities: Iran oil minister
