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* Oct Iran crude imports at 902,987 T, up 73.8 pct y/y
* Jan-Oct crude imports from Iran, up 110 pct y/y
* Total Oct crude imports at 11.59 mln T, up 3.6 pct y/y
By Jane Chung
SEOUL, Nov 15 (Reuters) - South Korea's Iranian crude oil imports soared 73.8 percent in October from a year ago as Tehran continued to boost its output to pre-sanction levels.
Seoul brought in 902,987 tonnes of Iranian crude, or 213,513 barrels per day (bpd), compared with 519,620 tonnes imported during the same month a year ago, customs office data showed on Tuesday.
The world's fifth-largest crude importer, shipped in 10.72 million tonnes of Iranian crude in the first 10 months of 2016, or 257,560 bpd, more than double from 5.1 million tonnes a year earlier.
But South Korea, one of Iran's top four Asian buyers, imported less Iranian crude in October from a month ago, about 39.3 percent lower from 1.49 million tonnes in September mainly due to refinery maintenance.
SK Incheon Petrochem, owned by SK Innovation Co Ltd
South Korea's crude oil import data usually includes condensate, but it does not provide a breakdown.
Along with Iran, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also pumped out more in October led by Libya, Nigeria and Iraq - countries that have sought to be exempted from the producer group's freeze talks. The October output was 33.64 million bpd, up 240,000 bpd from the previous month.
Overall, Asia's fourth-largest economy imported 11.59 million tonnes of crude oil last month, or 2.74 million bpd, up 3.6 percent from 11.18 million tonnes a year ago, according to the customs data.
South Korea shipped in 118.44 million tonnes of crude in the January-October period of 2016, or 2.85 million bpd, up 4.4 percent from 113.49 million tonnes last year.
Final data for October crude oil imports will be released by state-run Korea National Oil Corp later this month.
(Reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Michael Perry) ((jane.chung@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5667; Reuters Messaging: jane.chung.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
* Oct Iran crude imports at 902,987 T, up 73.8 pct y/y
* Jan-Oct crude imports from Iran, up 110 pct y/y
* Total Oct crude imports at 11.59 mln T, up 3.6 pct y/y
By Jane Chung
SEOUL, Nov 15 (Reuters) - South Korea's Iranian crude oil imports soared 73.8 percent in October from a year ago as Tehran continued to boost its output to pre-sanction levels.
Seoul brought in 902,987 tonnes of Iranian crude, or 213,513 barrels per day (bpd), compared with 519,620 tonnes imported during the same month a year ago, customs office data showed on Tuesday.
The world's fifth-largest crude importer, shipped in 10.72 million tonnes of Iranian crude in the first 10 months of 2016, or 257,560 bpd, more than double from 5.1 million tonnes a year earlier.
But South Korea, one of Iran's top four Asian buyers, imported less Iranian crude in October from a month ago, about 39.3 percent lower from 1.49 million tonnes in September mainly due to refinery maintenance.
SK Incheon Petrochem, owned by SK Innovation Co Ltd
South Korea's crude oil import data usually includes condensate, but it does not provide a breakdown.
Along with Iran, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also pumped out more in October led by Libya, Nigeria and Iraq - countries that have sought to be exempted from the producer group's freeze talks. The October output was 33.64 million bpd, up 240,000 bpd from the previous month.
Overall, Asia's fourth-largest economy imported 11.59 million tonnes of crude oil last month, or 2.74 million bpd, up 3.6 percent from 11.18 million tonnes a year ago, according to the customs data.
South Korea shipped in 118.44 million tonnes of crude in the January-October period of 2016, or 2.85 million bpd, up 4.4 percent from 113.49 million tonnes last year.
Final data for October crude oil imports will be released by state-run Korea National Oil Corp later this month.
(Reporting by Jane Chung; Editing by Michael Perry) ((jane.chung@thomsonreuters.com; +82 2 3704 5667; Reuters Messaging: jane.chung.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
