LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Iran's oil exports in July increased by 45,000 barrels per day (bpd) versus June, the oil ministry's news agency SHANA reported on Tuesday.

Iran exported in July 2.2 millions barrels of oil per day to the Asian and European markets, it said, with exports to Asia up by 100,000 barrels per day.

China, South Korea, India and Japan are Iran's main crude oil buyers in Asia.

Iran, which used to be OPEC's second biggest oil exporter, has been raising output since 2016 to recoup market share lost to regional rivals including Saudi Arabia and Iraq.



(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; editing by Jason Neely) ((bozorgmehr.sharafedin@thomsonreuters.com;))