RUSSIA kept its spot as the largest crude oil supplier to China in February, a role it held in January and for the past two years on an annual basis.

Russia supplied 5.052 million tons, or 1.32 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, up 17.8 percent from a year earlier, data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs showed.

Saudi Arabia regained its No. 2 ranking after losing out to Angola in January, with February supplies coming in at 4.635 million tons, or 1.21 million bpd, down 2.9 percent on year but up from 1.01 million bpd in January.

The hefty Russian shipments, which gained 21 percent for the January-February period over a year earlier, came after a second East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline started commercial operation in January, along with expanded domestic connections in China.

Imports from third-ranking Angola were 973,800 bpd, up 14.7 percent versus a year earlier.

Shipments from Brazil recorded the fastest growth among major suppliers, coming in at 2.4 million tons or about 626,160 bpd, up 54 percent on year, the data showed.

China’s total crude oil imports last month fell sharply from January’s record as independent refineries curbed buying amid worries about new tax rules.

The lower imports also came as refineries eased up on buying ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February, when manufacturing plants were shut down for up to two weeks.

Imports from the United States were 909,117 tons, or 237,020 bpd last month, down from 472,500 bpd in January.

U.S. shipments, which benefited from OPEC supply cuts and rebounding crude oil prices, averaged 153,000 bpd last year.

(SD-Agencies)