* Asia imports 1.9 mln bpd in Sep, up 5.1 pct yr/yr
* China monthly imports rise 60 pct to 784,000 bpd
* S.Korean imports hit 5-month high at 504,000 bpd
* Japan imports drop more than 30 pct to 216,000 bpd
* Indian imports down nearly a third at 415,400 bpd
TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) – Imports of Iranian crude by major
buyers in Asia rose in September for a third straight month to
their highest since March, boosted by a surge in purchases in
China and South Korea.
China, India, South Korea and Japan imported slightly more
than 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, up 5.1
percent from a year earlier, government and ship-tracking data
showed. Their imports rose nearly 20 percent from August.
Still, purchases from the Asian buyers remain below highs
that were hit earlier this year and last year as Tehran ramped
up exports following the lifting of economic sanctions, after it
had agreed to constraints on its disputed nuclear programme.