TOKYO Japan imported from Iran 20.38 million barrels of crude oil in January, up 0.1 percent from that of the previous year. Iran was Japan's third largest oil supplier in the month. The country imported 147.75 million barrels of crude oil in January, up 5.5 percent from that of the previous year for the fifth straight monthly gain, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday. Imports from the Middle East edged up 16.3 percent to 132.47 million barrels, accounting for 89.7 percent of the country's aggregate crude oil imports, the ministry said in a preliminary report. The ministry attributed the rise in overall imports in the month reported to increased consumption of heating oil during the colder-than-usual weather. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained the biggest oil supplier to Japan with 38.56 million barrels, up 7.2 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia with 32.33 million barrels, up 19.0 percent, and Iran with 20.38 million barrels, up 0.1 percent. Meanwhile, domestic sales of petroleum products totaled 22.87 million kiloliters in January, up 10.1 percent for the first upsurge in four months and a record amount for the month, the ministry said. Kerosene sales soared 24.1 percent to 4.95 million kiloliters, while jet fuel sales rose by 23.6 percent to 418,000kl. Sales of Naphtha rose to 4.21 million kiloliters and those of heavy fuel oil to 5.90 million kiloliters, both up 10.4 percent. Gasoline sales accelerated 3.6 percent to 4.40 million Kiloliters. Japan imported 1.58 billion barrels of crude oil in 2000, up 0.1 percent from that of the previous year for a first upturn in three years, the ministry said. Japan's crude oil imports from Iran amounted to 180.62 million barrels in the same period, down 1.6 percent compared to that of 1999. Imports from the Middle East totalled 1.35 billion barrels, up 0.7 percent, accounting for 85.7 percent of the nation's aggregate crude oil imports, the ministry said in a preliminary report. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained Japan's biggest oil supplier in 2000 for the 16th year in a row, providing 396.72 million barrels, down 0.1 percent. The UAE was followed by Saudi Arabia with 334.02 million barrels, up 12.5 percent, Iran with 180.62 million barrels, down 1.6 percent, and Qatar with 147.55 million barrels, up 0.7 percent. (IRNA)