Saudi crude share of S. Korea's imports falls below 30 pct for 1st time in 5 yrs

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SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- Saudi Arabian crude oil accounted for less than 30 percent of South Korea's crude imports this year, industry data showed Monday, amid efforts by local refiners to diversify their sources of crude following geopolitical risks in the Middle East.

According to the data from the Korea National Oil Corp. and the Korea Petroleum Association, Saudi crude accounted for 29.9 percent of the country's total crude oil imports in the January-August period, down from 30.91 percent in the previous month.

It marked the first time in five years that the share fell below the 30 percent mark. Saudi Arabia remains South Korea's largest source of crude oil.

The annual share of Saudi crude last fell below the 30 percent level in 2021, when global crude oil supplies were disrupted amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the downward trend continues, Saudi Arabia's share could fall to third place or lower this year, potentially surpassing the previous low recorded in 1986, according to industry officials.

The decline is seen as reflecting efforts by South Korean refiners to diversify their crude oil supply sources and reduce their reliance on Middle Eastern crude amid growing geopolitical risks in the region.

Saudi Arabia has faced disruptions to crude oil supplies and exports as the conflict in the Middle East has affected oil facilities and raised concerns over a closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Although Saudi Arabia has continued exports by using alternative routes around the Red Sea, shipments have come under further pressure as Houthi rebels have threatened shipping in the region.

South Korean refiners have consequently increased imports from other regions, particularly the United States.

U.S. crude accounted for 20.12 percent of South Korea's total imports in the eight-month period, remaining above 20 percent after surpassing the 20 percent mark on a cumulative basis for the first time in January-April period.

The very large crude carrier Universal Winner, a South Korean oil tanker operated by Korean shipping company HMM, reaches waters off the southeastern port city of Ulsan, in this file photo from June 10, 2026, about three weeks after exiting the Strait of Hormuz, where it had been stranded amid tensions in the Middle East. (Yonhap)

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Saudi crude share of S. Korea's imports falls below 30 pct for 1st time in 5 yrs

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首尔，10月5日（韩联社）——行业数据显示，今年沙特阿拉伯原油在韩国原油进口中所占比例不到30%，原因是受中东地缘政治风险的影响，韩国炼油商正努力实现原油来源多元化。

根据韩国国家石油公司和韩国石油协会的数据，今年1月至8月，沙特原油占韩国原油进口总量的29.9%，低于上月的30.91%。

这是五年来该份额首次跌破30%。沙特阿拉伯仍然是韩国最大的原油供应国。

沙特原油的年份额上一次跌破 30% 是在 2021 年，当时由于中东局势紧张加剧和 COVID-19 疫情，全球原油供应受到干扰。

业内人士表示，如果下降趋势继续下去，沙特阿拉伯今年的市场份额可能会跌至第三位甚至更低，甚至可能超过 1986 年创下的此前最低纪录。

这一下降被视为韩国炼油商为实现原油供应来源多元化、减少对中东原油的依赖而做出的努力，因为该地区的地缘政治风险日益增加。

由于中东冲突影响了石油设施，并引发了人们对霍尔木兹海峡关闭的担忧，沙特阿拉伯的原油供应和出口受到了干扰。

尽管沙特阿拉伯一直通过绕过红海的替代路线继续出口，但由于胡塞武装威胁该地区的航运，货物运输面临进一步的压力。

因此，韩国炼油商增加了从其他地区，特别是美国进口的原油。

在过去八个月里，美国原油占韩国原油进口总量的 20.12%，继 1 月至 4 月累计占比首次超过 20% 之后，继续保持在 20% 以上。

这张摄于2026年6月10日的资料照片显示，韩国航运公司HMM运营的超大型原油运输船“环球赢家号”（Universal Winner）抵达韩国东南部港口城市蔚山附近海域。此前，该船因中东局势紧张而被困霍尔木兹海峡约三周。（韩联社）

沙特输油管道关闭短期内对供应影响有限：政府

尽管存在不确定性，韩国原油供应依然稳定：产业通商资源部

沙特原油在韩国进口原油中的份额五年来首次降至30%以下