CONCERNS have been raised in the American Journal of Transportation about the degree of physical control is exercised over the South China Sea and how much the world's oil must traverse it.
'The three crude oil importers with the largest volumes passing through the South China Sea - China, Japan, and South Korea - collectively accounted for 80 per cent of total crude oil volumes transiting the South China Sea in 2016.
About 90 per cent of China's 2016 maritime crude oil shipments were transported through the South China Sea, it said.
'China's crude oil imports have increased substantially over the past few years as a result of the country's robust energy demand growth and stagnant crude oil production, and the country recently surpassed the United States as the world's largest crude oil importer,' the article said.
'About 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and South Korea was shipped through the South China Sea in 2016,' said the AJOT article.
'Most of Japan's and South Korea's imports are from Middle Eastern suppliers and are transported through the Strait of Malacca and then the South China Sea..
'The South China Sea is a major trade route for crude oil, and in 2016, more than 30 per cent of global maritime crude oil trade, or about 15 million barrels per day (b/d), passed through the South China Sea.
'More than 90 per cent of crude oil volumes flowing through the South China Sea in 2016 transited the Strait of Malacca, the shortest sea route between suppliers in Africa and the Persian Gulf and markets in Asia, making it one of the world's primary oil transit chokepoints.
'In addition, a significant amount of crude oil (about 1.4 million b/d) passes through the strait on its way to Singapore and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where it is refined before transiting the South China Sea in the form of petroleum products.
'The South China Sea is a major trade route for the Middle East, which accounted for more than 70 per cent of total South China Sea crude oil shipments in 2016.
'Saudi Arabia is the largest source of crude oil, making up almost one-fourth of crude oil volumes traversing the South China Sea. More than half of Saudi Arabia's global crude oil shipments travelled through the South China Sea in 2016,' the article said.
'Singapore accounted for two per cent of crude oil loadings that passed through the South China Sea in 2016 and one per cent of crude oil receipts.
'Although Singapore does not produce crude oil, it is a major hub for refining crude oil and for storing and transshipping crude oil and petroleum products.
'In 2016, 95 per cent of Singapore's crude oil exports passed through the South China Sea. Most of these volumes originally came from the Middle East, and about half went to China,' the article said.
'The three crude oil importers with the largest volumes passing through the South China Sea - China, Japan, and South Korea - collectively accounted for 80 per cent of total crude oil volumes transiting the South China Sea in 2016.
About 90 per cent of China's 2016 maritime crude oil shipments were transported through the South China Sea, it said.
'China's crude oil imports have increased substantially over the past few years as a result of the country's robust energy demand growth and stagnant crude oil production, and the country recently surpassed the United States as the world's largest crude oil importer,' the article said.
'About 90 per cent of the crude oil imported by Japan and South Korea was shipped through the South China Sea in 2016,' said the AJOT article.
'Most of Japan's and South Korea's imports are from Middle Eastern suppliers and are transported through the Strait of Malacca and then the South China Sea..
'The South China Sea is a major trade route for crude oil, and in 2016, more than 30 per cent of global maritime crude oil trade, or about 15 million barrels per day (b/d), passed through the South China Sea.
'More than 90 per cent of crude oil volumes flowing through the South China Sea in 2016 transited the Strait of Malacca, the shortest sea route between suppliers in Africa and the Persian Gulf and markets in Asia, making it one of the world's primary oil transit chokepoints.
'In addition, a significant amount of crude oil (about 1.4 million b/d) passes through the strait on its way to Singapore and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where it is refined before transiting the South China Sea in the form of petroleum products.
'The South China Sea is a major trade route for the Middle East, which accounted for more than 70 per cent of total South China Sea crude oil shipments in 2016.
'Saudi Arabia is the largest source of crude oil, making up almost one-fourth of crude oil volumes traversing the South China Sea. More than half of Saudi Arabia's global crude oil shipments travelled through the South China Sea in 2016,' the article said.
'Singapore accounted for two per cent of crude oil loadings that passed through the South China Sea in 2016 and one per cent of crude oil receipts.
'Although Singapore does not produce crude oil, it is a major hub for refining crude oil and for storing and transshipping crude oil and petroleum products.
'In 2016, 95 per cent of Singapore's crude oil exports passed through the South China Sea. Most of these volumes originally came from the Middle East, and about half went to China,' the article said.