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 Oil imports to Japan rose 12% in September from year-earlier levels,
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 according to statistics 
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released by the government's Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
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 The imports,
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 totaling 98.5 million barrels,
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 were 11% lower than August levels.
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 The year-on-year rise was partly because of higher demand for petroleum products,
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 and partly because of tax changes in 1988
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 that left oil companies with high inventories in the late-summer/early-FALL PERIOD.
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elaboration-object-attribute-e

10
 Imports of crude from the Middle East grew 17% from year-earlier levels, 
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Comparison

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and Southeast Asian crude imports grew 43%.
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 While Mideast crude imports were higher 
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compared with year-earlier levels,
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 they fell 18% compared with August imports. 
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Southeast Asian crude imports, however, were 3.6% higher than August.
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Comparison

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attribution

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elaboration-additional

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