Data published Sunday on the website of the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) showed Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports fell to a five-month low in May

  • Saudi Arabia shipped 6.94 million barrels a day in May (from 7.74 million in April)
  • Lowest since December

Some analysts cite Chinese refinery shutdowns in May (for maintenance) as a contributor to lower Saudi exports. London's Energy Aspects say Chinese refineries had almost 1 million barrels a day of capacity offline in May, and that stockpiling also probably came to an end that month.

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JODI compiles data provided by oil-exporting countries