Initial data from the South Korean Customs Authority showed that Seoul did not import crude oil from Iran in March or a year ago.
The data also indicated that South Korea, the fifth largest buyer of crude oil in the world, imported a total of 12.5 million tons of crude oil last month, compared to 11.5 million tons a year ago.
Later this month, KNOC will release final data on South Korea’s crude oil imports in March.
Last March, the US State Department announced that it would impose sanctions on anyone who facilitates the trade in Iranian oil and petrochemicals, and confirmed that it is committed to working to reduce Iranian energy exports “significantly.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it imposed sanctions on six entities that participated in the transfer or sale of Iranian petroleum products or petrochemical products.
