Riyadh – Mubasher: The Saudi Arabian Oil Co, known internationally as Saudi Aramco, has approved supplying China-based Huajin Chemical Industries Group Corp with 12 million barrels of crude oil during 2018, three informed sources said on Monday.

The Middle Eastern oil giant’s supply to the Chinese firm came under an annual deal for 2018, sources added, giving no further details on the value of the deal. 

Crude imports of Huajin, a refinery and chemical complex controlled by Chinese defense conglomerate China North Industries Group Corp (Norinco), ranged between 6 million to 8 million barrels during 2017, Reuters reported, citing two sources as saying.

“Huajin’s spokesperson confirmed the 2018 volume but did not give further details of the supply deal,” the agency added.

In 2017, Russia topped oil suppliers for China for the second consecutive year, beating the oil-rich kingdom.