South Sudan’s crude production in the first half of July was estimated at 160,000-165,000 b/d, according to industry sources. Sources in Juba have confirmed that Chinese oil workers were evacuated in May from key oilfields in South Sudan’s only producing state, Upper Nile, but any downturn in oil production was shortlived. Current output is slightly higher than the H1 average.On 8 July, Sinopec subsidiary China International United Petroleum & Chemicals (Unipec) won the contract for a cargo of 1m barrels of Dar Blend crude for loading at Port Sudan between 15 and 17 August.