This gives credence to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s comments who earlier announced a substantial increase in crude exports.
Iranian oil exports have risen to more than 1 million barrels per day for the first time in almost three years, based on estimates from the companies.
Tehran’s oil exports have been limited since former US President Donald Trump in 2018 exited the 2015 nuclear deal, JCPOA.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has discussed the imports with China but has not imposed sanctions on Chinese individuals and companies.
Beijing has urged the United States to lift the sanctions on Iran, which China opposes.
Consulting firm Petro-Logistics said Iran’s crude exports surged in December to more than 1 million bpd, the highest level in almost three years.
“We wouldn’t expect to see 1 million bpd consistently until there is a change in the political landscape,” said Petro-Logistics Chief Executive Daniel Gerber.
The increase in Iranian exports comes as tight global supply has helped to push oil prices to a seven-year high of $94 a barrel.
SVB International, another consulting firm that tracks Iranian oil supply, also noted an increase in Iranian crude exports to more than 1 million bpd, although it registered the increase in January rather than December.
Crude exports reached 1.085 million bpd in January, based on SVB estimates, up from 826,000 bpd in December.
