Saudi Arabia’s share of South Korean crude oil imports fell below 30% for the first time in five years as refiners increased purchases from other suppliers amid continuing disruption in the Middle East. Saudi crude accounted for 29.9% of imports in January-August, down from 30.91% through July, although the kingdom remained South Korea’s largest source of crude.

U.S. crude reached 20.12% of imports over the same eight months, extending a shift that accelerated after the Iran war disrupted Gulf shipping. Separate Korea Customs Service (KCS) datashow that imports from five Middle Eastern suppliers that normally use the Strait of