TEHRAN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran's crude oil exports to the European Union reached 9.31 million tons in the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year starting March 21, six times higher than the same period last year, Financial Tribune daily reported on Saturday.
The figure is equivalent to a total of 66.5 million barrels, or means nearly 560,000 barrels per day (bpd).
The higher exports in Iran's oil to EU is largely attributed to the lifting of international sanctions on the Islamic republic, which has allowed the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to recoup its lost ground in the global crude market.
Italy purchased 2.8 million tons of oil in the four-month period, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all EU imports. France and Spain were also major customers, taking in 2.2 million tons and 1.1 million tons respectively.
Iran sold around 800,000 bpd to the European buyers before the international sanctions imposed during 2011-2012, which reduced Iran's oil exports to Europe to almost zero.
Among Iran's European customers are energy giants including France's Total, Italy's Eni and Saras, Russia's Lukoil, Spain's Cepsa, Royal Dutch Shell and Hungary's MOL.