China's oil imports rose 6.2% in August — OilPrice
China imported 37.93 million tonnes of crude oil in August, or 8.93 million barrels per day. This was 6.2% more than in July and marked the second consecutive monthly increase in purchases. OilPrice reports, citing Chinese customs data.
Recovery after the June low
In June, China's oil imports fell to 7.1 million barrels per day, a ten-year low. In August, purchases remained 23.4% lower than in the same month of 2025, but significantly exceeded the June level.
According to the publication, imports began recovering in July, and the trend continued in August. Chinese refiners increased purchases of Russian ESPO crude and turned to supplies from destinations atypical for them, including Argentina. Flows of oil from the Middle East also increased somewhat.
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Fuel exports rose by 29%
One factor behind the increase in crude oil purchases was the easing of restrictions on exports of petroleum products. This allowed refiners to replenish inventories and benefit from acceptable refining margins amid a global fuel shortage, primarily of diesel.
Chinese exports of petroleum products rose by 29% in August compared with July, to 6 million tonnes. The figure also exceeded the 5.33 million tonnes exported in August 2025. Emma Li, an analyst at shipping-tracking company Vortexa, linked the monthly increase in oil imports to the jump in fuel exports in August and the continuation of substantial exports in September.
