Influencedbythefinancialcrisis,theoverallbilateraltradevolumebetweenChinaandIrandecreasedby39%inthefirstquarterof2009;however,thevolumeofIran'sexportedcrudeoiltoChinahasincreasedby88%comparedwiththesameperiodlastyearuptoMayof2009,totaling308.8milliontons.Iran,astheworld'sNo.5crudeexporter,replacedSaudiArabiaasChina'slargestoilsupplier.Atthesametime,China,astheworld'sNo.2oilconsumer,nowimportshalfofthecrudeoilitconsumes,andhasbecomeIran'sthirdlargestcustomer.
