Shafaq News- Baghdad
South Korea's imports of Iraqi crude oil fell 42.4 percentyear-on-year in April 2026 to approximately 800,000 metric tons or 5.84 millionbarrels, according to data from the Korea International Trade Association(KITA), the country's primary trade statistics body.
South Korean crude imports from seven Middle Easternsuppliers —including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, andBahrain— fell sharply, with the region's share of total South Korean crudeimports dropping to 53.1 percent in April, down from roughly 70 percent in themonths before the regional conflict, which disrupted the shipping through theStrait of Hormuz.
Total South Korean crude imports for April reached 8.46million metric tons, a 22.8 percent decline compared to the same month in 2025,according to KITA data.
Saudi Arabia, historically Seoul's largest crude supplier,saw export volumes to South Korea fall 37.6 percent to 2.146 million metrictons. Kuwait's deliveries collapsed by 98.2 percent to approximately 10,000metric tons, while Qatar halted shipments entirely.
UAE crude exports to South Korea rose 81.6 percent to 1.4million metric tons, while US shipments increased 13.4 percent to approximately2.145 million metric tons.
South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources hasstated that the country maintains strategic petroleum reserves equivalent toapproximately 208 days of crude demand, exceeding mandatory stockpilingrequirements.
Seoul has moved to reduce its dependence on Middle Easterncrude, securing alternative supplies from Algeria, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon,Kazakhstan, the Republic of the Congo, and the United States, cutting itsMiddle East reliance from 69 percent to 56 percent, according to thepresidential office.
