Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent
LOS ANGELES, Mar. 1 -- Japan's Showa Shell Sekiyu KK signed a contract with Saudi Aramco to double its oil purchases to 300,000 b/d in a deal that will enable the company to cut imports from other Middle Eastern suppliers, apart from Iran.
Showa Shell said it plans to reduce imports from the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and other countries but will keep buying crude with Iran, one of its key suppliers.
The deal gives Show Shell access to Saudi Extra Light crude.
