China, Iran's top oil customer, bought 1.94 million tonnes of Iranian crude in October, equivalent to about 456,240 barrels per day (bpd), versus 382,400 bpd in September, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.

China imported 593,900 bpd of Iranian crude in October 2011.

Imports for the first 10 months totalled 17.7 million tonnes, or 424,400 bpd, 22.2 percent lower than a year earlier, largely because of steep cuts made in the first quarter as China and Iran wrangled over contract terms.