The hand of US economic sanctions tightens the screws on Iranian oil, especially in its Asian hub, as Tehran's oil exports fell by 49% to the four largest importing countries in the comparison of January 2019 with January of Last year ...

China ... a decrease of about half a million barrels to 370 thousand barrels from 870 thousand barrels per day

India ... less than 270 thousand barrels after 400 thousand barrels per day

Japan and South Korea ... 71 thousand barrels after 104 thousand barrels per day


It is noteworthy that next May marks the end of the temporary US exemption for eight countries from the ban on importing Iranian oil by about 1.2 million barrels per day.

Also, Washington is pursuing economic sanctions during the second half of 2019 to whistle oil exports to Iran, the fourth largest oil producer in OPEC.