China’s crude imports rebound as fuel exports surge
Chinese crude imports rose 6.2% in August, while refined oil exports jumped 29% month on month after export restrictions were eased.
China’s crude oil imports rose for a second consecutive month in August as refiners restocked, diversified supplies and increased fuel exports, according to official Chinese customs data reported by Yahoo Finance.
Imports reached 37.93 million tonnes, equivalent to 8.93 million barrels per day, up 6.2% from July. The recovery followed a decade-low in June, when imports fell to about 7.1 million barrels per day.
Despite the monthly improvement, August imports were 23.4% below the same month a year earlier. China had reduced crude buying during three months of high prices and constrained Middle Eastern supply.
The rebound included higher flows from the Middle East, increased purchases of Russian ESPO crude and shipments from Argentina, according to the report. Analysts also linked stronger buying to restocking and opportunities created by eased fuel-export restrictions, amid strong diesel demand and refining margins.
Chinese refined oil product exports rose 29% from July to 6 million tonnes in August, exceeding the 5.33 million tonnes recorded in August 2025.
Emma Li, an analyst at ship-tracking firm Vortexa, said the monthly increase in crude imports was consistent with the surge in fuel exports in August and continued strong exports in September.
