Iran increased its oil exports in 2022, with nearly 300 “dark fleet” tankers involved in carrying its crude in the face of US sanctions, according to vessel trackers at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI).
China was the largest customer by far, receiving more than 70% of the 430m barrels of Iranian crude, followed by Syria and Venezuela, said the US-based group, which urged Washington to do more to target the trade.
The US sanctioned 16 tankers last year, including the 306,300-dwt Young Yong (built 2001), which ran aground off Indonesia in October near a Singapore gas pipeline.
