FRANKFURT, April 17 (Reuters) - Germany's crude oil
imports rose 8.5% in 2022 as Europe's biggest economy recovered
from the COVID-19 pandemic and the bill for its purchases soared
as oil prices surged, official data showed on Monday.
Russia remained Germany's biggest supplier but its share
dropped to 25.4% from 34.1% in 2021, statistics issued by the
BAFA foreign trade office showed, as Russia's invasion of
Ukraine led to sanctions.
On Dec. 5, 2022, the European Union banned Russian crude
imports and G7 countries set a price cap on Russian seaborne
exports, reducing subsequent arrivals, forcing Germany to find
other sources of supply this year.
Germany's other big suppliers last year were the United
States, Kazakhstan, Britain, Norway, and members of the
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Germany spent 60.9 billion euros ($66.69 billion) on crude
oil imports in 2022, compared with 35.5 billion in 2021, the
data showed.
The impact of sanctions and Russian counter actions in
energy flows specifically on Germany is appearing only
gradually.
Germany's total imports of crude last year rose to 88.2
million tonnes from 81.3 million in 2021.
Within the total, Russia accounted for 22.4 million, the
United States for 12.1 million and Kazakhstan for 9.1 million,
allowing for rounded figures.
($1 = 0.9132 euros)
(Reporting by Vera Eckert, editing by Susan Fenton)
@EckertVera;))
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