OIL DATA: Japan's July Crude Imports Fall 18% On Year -METI

TOKYO -- Japan's July crude oil imports by refiners and trading companies fell 18% from a year earlier to 17.4 million kiloliters, or 3.53 million barrels a day, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Monday.

Crude imports from the Middle East in the same month accounted for 89% of the total, down 1.5 percentage points from a year earlier, and up from 86% in June.