Spanish imports of crude oil rose by nearly 1 percent year on year in April to 5.32 million tonnes, with Saudi, Iraqi and Algerian shipments registering the largest percentage increases, government data showed.

The Middle East became Spain’s biggest supplier in April for the first time since January 2012, CORES, which is responsible for Spain’s strategic energy reserves, said in a monthly bulletin.

Shipments from OPEC countries, which have agreed to cut output this year, fell 4.4 percent to 2.538 million tonnes.

However, Saudi imports rose 63.5 percent to 682,000 tonnes, Iraqi imports rose 243 percent to 495,000 tonnes and Algerian shipments rose 220 percent to 96,000 tonnes.

Imports from non-OPEC countries rose by 5.9 percent to 2.785 million tonnes.

Between January and April, total Spanish imports of crude oil rose by 1.1 percent to 21.66 million tonnes.

Source: Reuters (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; editing by Jason Neely)