Saudi Arabian crude oil accounted for less than 30 percent of South Korea's crude imports this year, industry data showed Monday, amid efforts by local refiners to diversify their sources of crude following geopolitical risks in the Middle East. According to the data from the Korea National Oil Corp. and the Korea Petroleum Association, Saudi crude accounted for 29.9 percent of the country's total crude oil imports in the January-August period, down from 30.91 percent in the previous month. It marked the first time in five years that the share fell below the 30 percent mark. Saudi Arabia remains South Korea's largest source of crude oil. The annual share of Saudi crude last fell below the 30 percent level in 2021, when global crude oil supplies were disrupted amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and the COVID-19 pandemic. If the downward trend continues, Saudi Arabia's share could fall to third place or lower this year, potentially surpassing the previous low recorded in 1986, according to industry officials. The decline is seen as reflecting efforts by South Korean refiners to div