China Oil Imports by Country: Where Does China Get Most of Its Oil From?

Key Takeaways

• Russia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil led China oil imports by country from January to July 2026, supplying US$48.99 billion, US$25.49 billion and US$24.09 billion of HS 27 mineral fuels respectively, according to yTrade China's HS 27 import data.
• Brazil overtook both Russia and Saudi Arabia to become China's largest seaborne crude supplier from January to August 2026, accounting for 14.1% of volumes as the Middle East's share contracted to 32.6% from 45.6% a year earlier.
• China's crude imports averaged 8.1 million barrels per day in Q2 2026, 32% below Q1, before recovering to 8.63 million barrels per day in July after a US-Iran ceasefire eased tanker transit restrictions.

China import figures in this article come from yTrade, which aggregates 5B+ trade records from customs authorities and government trade agencies across 200+ countries.

Where Does China Get Most of Its Oil From?

China's top oil and fuel suppliers from January to July 2026 were Russia at US$48.99 billion (20.11%), Saudi Arabia at US$25.49 billion (10.46%) and Brazil at US$24.09 billion (9.89%), based on yTrade China's HS 27 import data. China oil imports by country totalled US$243.63 billion across HS 27 over the period.

HS 27 is the Harmonized System chapter for mineral fuels, covering crude oil, natural gas, coal and refined fuels. Because the chapter also covers gas and coal, China crude oil imports by country require filtering on HS 2709. Here is how the top 10 suppliers ranked:

1. Russia: US$48.99 billion (20.11% share) — China's leading crude source, delivering by both pipeline and tanker, with seaborne shipments from Russia growing 31.3% year on year to 35.7 million tonnes from January to August 2026
2. Saudi Arabia: US$25.49 billion (10.46% share) — the largest Middle East supplier, although Saudi crude volumes to China contracted 30.9% year on year as Gulf transit disruptions reduced regional shipments
3. Brazil: US$24.09 billion (9.89% share) — overtook Russia and Saudi Arabia to become China's largest seaborne crude supplier in 2026, with South American crude exports rising 34.2% year on year
4. Indonesia: US$24.02 billion (9.86% share) — the highest quantity share in the top 10 at 21.13%, reflecting large volumes of lower-value solid fuels such as coal.
5. Malaysia: US$16.86 billion (6.92% share) — a Southeast Asian supplier of crude and fuel cargoes, with volumes partly including transshipped Iranian and Russian crude passing through ASEAN ports

#	HS Code	Product	Value (US$)	%
1	2709	Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude	172,253,052,350	70.70%
2	2711	Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons	30,795,014,541	12.64%
3	2701	Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels	16,596,420,734	6.81%
4	2710	Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, other than crude	13,129,608,311	5.39%
5	2702	Lignite, whether or not agglomerated, excluding jet	5,843,569,873	2.40%

Source: yTrade Global Trade Data Platform - HS 27 - January–July 2026.

Top #1 China Oil Import by Country: Russia — US$49 Billion

Russia is China's top source of crude oil imports, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Its supply to China remained resilient in Q2 2026 because pipeline deliveries stayed stable, even as China's tanker imports from Russia decreased by 640,000 barrels per day between Q1 and Q2.

Meanwhile, China's seaborne imports from Russia reached 1.68 million barrels per day in August, up from 1.4 million in July. Russian ESPO crude from the Pacific coast reaches Chinese ports in under a week, which gives refiners faster replacement supply than Atlantic origins such as Brazil or West Africa.

• Russia's crude market share rose to 23.9% year to date in 2026: up from 17.9% in 2025, as China replaced Gulf barrels with Russian supply, according to BMI analysts cited by Rigzone.
• Direct seaborne shipments grew 31.3% year on year to 35.7 million tonnes: from January to August 2026, based on shipbroker Banchero Costa data published by Hellenic Shipping News.
• Pipeline route supports consistent delivery: China imports about 1 million barrels per day from Russia by pipeline, a route unaffected by the Strait of Hormuz disruption.

Top #2 China Oil Import by Country: Saudi Arabia — US$25.5 Billion

Saudi Arabia remained China's largest Middle East crude supplier in 2026, but its volumes contracted sharply. China imported 34.4 million tonnes of Saudi crude from January to August, down 30.9% year on year, according to Banchero Costa data published by Hellenic Shipping News.

Routes out of the Gulf narrowed during the period. Saudi Arabia shut its pipeline across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea following attacks in Iraq, according to Al Jazeera, leaving two major routes for Middle Eastern oil to China both disrupted. Saudi Aramco sold at least four million barrels to China in August, equal to about 129,000 barrels per day when averaged across the month.

• Middle East's share of China's seaborne crude slid to 32.6%: from 45.6% in the same period of 2025, as Gulf exports plunged 30.1% year on year to 405.3 million tonnes globally from January to August 2026.
• Iraq's crude shipments to China plunged 64.7% year on year: with Kuwait down 78.7%, UAE down 29.1% and Oman down 21.4% over the same period.
• BMI forecasts Brent at US$86/barrel for 2026 and US$71 for 2027: and expects China's crude imports to remain restrained without lower prices or a lasting peace deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

Top #3 China Oil Import by Country: Brazil — US$24.1 Billion

Brazil overtook both Russia and Saudi Arabia to become China's largest seaborne crude supplier from January to August 2026, with 14.1% of volumes, according to Banchero Costa data. Russia ranked second at 13.6% and Saudi Arabia third at 13.2% for seaborne crude, but Russia still leads overall once pipeline deliveries are counted.

Crude exports from South America rose 34.2% year on year to 188.9 million tonnes from January to August 2026, as Chinese refiners sought replacement barrels for reduced Gulf supply. Roughly one-third of the crude China lost from the Gulf was replaced by origins including Brazil, according to the Asia Group, as cited by Chatham House. Brazil offered China 1.6 million barrels per day in March 2026, Al Jazeera reported.

• South American crude exports surged 34.2% year on year: the largest regional increase from January to August 2026, driven primarily by Brazilian shipments
• Atlantic voyages add cost and transit time: Brazilian crude takes significantly longer to reach Chinese ports than Russian ESPO from the Pacific coast, which arrives in under a week
• Brazil was already among China's five largest crude suppliers in 2025: and its seaborne market share is expected to remain elevated as long as Gulf transit restrictions continue

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Top #4 China Oil Import by Country: Indonesia — US$24 Billion

Indonesia ranks fourth by HS 27 value but first by quantity at 21.13%, because its shipments to China are dominated by coal rather than crude oil. Indonesia supplied around 211.8 million tonnes of coal to China in 2025, its largest single market, based on the Indonesia Coal Mining Association, which explains why its quantity share runs far ahead of its value share.

The product split sets Indonesia apart from the crude suppliers above it. Indonesian HS 27 exports to China reached about US$12.69 billion in 2025, led by lignite at US$5.64 billion and coal at US$4.57 billion, so Indonesia feeds China's power stations more than its refineries.

• Indonesia shipped about 211.8 million tonnes of coal to China in 2025: its single largest export market.
• China took 43.3% of Indonesia's coal exports in 2024: the top destination, based on US Energy Information Administration data
• Lower-value coal lifts quantity over value: Indonesia holds 21.13% of China's HS 27 quantity but only 9.86% of value, which reflects bulk solid fuels.

Top #5 China Oil Import by Country: Malaysia — US$17 Billion

Malaysia ranks fifth in China oil imports by country, supplying mainly liquefied natural gas and refined petroleum rather than crude. Malaysia is one of the world's largest LNG exporters, with China its second-largest LNG buyer after Japan under multi-decade supply contracts, from Malaysia Trade Data, which anchors its position among China's fuel suppliers.

Gas and processed fuels define the trade rather than raw crude. Petroleum gases were Malaysia's largest HS 27 export line to China at about US$4.30 billion, well ahead of crude oil, based on UN Comtrade data, so Malaysian supply reaches China's gas grid and refineries rather than feeding crude distillation alone.

• China is Malaysia's second-largest LNG buyer after Japan: under multi-decade Petronas supply contracts
• Petroleum gases lead Malaysia's fuel exports to China: at about US$4.30 billion, ahead of crude oil.
• Malaysia's HS 27 exports total about US$42.6 billion globally: across crude, refined products and LNG, which gives it spare capacity to serve China.

What Products Drive China Oil Imports by Country?

Crude oil (HS 2709) accounted for US$172.25 billion, or 70.70% of China's HS 27 imports from January to July 2026, according to yTrade China's HS 27 import data. On the other hand, petroleum gases (HS 2711) ranked second at US$30.80 billion (12.64%), followed by coal (HS 2701) at US$16.60 billion (6.81%). The top five products covered 97.94% of the total. The five products were:

• HS 2709, crude petroleum oils: US$172.25 billion (70.70% share), the main input for China's refineries
• HS 2711, petroleum gases: US$30.80 billion (12.64% share), covering LNG and LPG
• HS 2701, coal: US$16.60 billion (6.81% share), used mainly for power generation and industry
• HS 2710, refined petroleum oils: US$13.13 billion (5.39% share), a small share because China refines most of its imported crude domestically, so China crude oil imports by country under HS 2709 carry most of the value
• HS 2702, lignite: US$5.84 billion (2.40% share), a lower-grade coal

#	HS Code	Product	Value (US$)	%
1	2709	Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude	172,253,052,350	70.70%
2	2711	Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons	30,795,014,541	12.64%
3	2701	Coal; briquettes, ovoids and similar solid fuels	16,596,420,734	6.81%
4	2710	Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, other than crude	13,129,608,311	5.39%
5	2702	Lignite, whether or not agglomerated, excluding jet	5,843,569,873	2.40%

Source: yTrade Global Trade Data Platform - HS 27 - January–July 2026.

China's refined fuel consumption declined 8.6% year on year in H1 2026, with diesel down 11.5% and gasoline down 7.9%, according to Sinopec's interim results cited by BMI analysts in Rigzone. Jet fuel was the only major refined product to post growth, at 1.3% year on year, supported by holiday travel and international air traffic recovery.

Electric vehicles accounted for more than 60% of China's monthly vehicle sales in the first half of 2026, which reduced petrol demand further, according to Carbon Brief. BMI now forecasts total refined fuel demand to contract 8.0% in 2026 to 15.72 million barrels per day, down from its previous forecast of a 4.5% decline.

For LNG, BMI estimates China's imports will decrease 4.6% in 2026 as domestic gas production continues to rise, further reshaping where does China import oil from across all fuel types.

How Much Oil Does China Import in 2026?

China imported US$243.63 billion of HS 27 mineral fuels from January to July 2026, a 0.52% increase in value year on year, while quantity decreased 6.16%, from yTrade China's HS 27 import data. Monthly China oil imports by country value ranged from US$31.34 billion in February to US$36.72 billion in March, and quantity contracted year on year every month from March to July.

Month (2026)	Value (US$)	Value YoY	Quantity	Quantity YoY
January	33.76B	-1.42%	112.13B	14.95%
February	31.34B	-6.69%	93.74B	4.71%
March	36.72B	-3.47%	101.76B	-0.98%
April	36.57B	4.11%	80.29B	-19.53%
May	35.97B	8.59%	75.72B	-21.74%
June	33.51B	-1.10%	83.44B	-13.25%
July	35.76B	4.04%	91.89B	-6.57%

Source: yTrade Global Trade Data Platform - HS 27 - January–July 2026.

In barrels, China imported a record 11.6 million barrels per day of crude in 2025, according to EIA. Imports then averaged 8.1 million barrels per day in Q2 2026, 32% below Q1, and in May and June they slipped under 8.0 million barrels per day for the first time since 2016. July crude imports recovered to 8.63 million barrels per day, up 22.2% month on month, after a US-Iran ceasefire eased tanker restrictions, according to BMI.

August imports rose a further 6.2% to 37.9 million tonnes, the highest level in four months but still more than 23% below August 2025, as reported by the South China Morning Post. Three factors will shape how much oil does China import for the rest of 2026, and where does China get most of their oil in the months ahead:

• China entered 2026 with an estimated 1.4 billion barrels in storage, covering at least three months of imports, which reduces pressure to buy at elevated prices
• BMI forecasts Dated Brent at US$86/barrel in 2026 and US$71 in 2027, and expects crude imports to remain restrained without lower prices or a reopened Strait of Hormuz
• China accounted for 19.0% of global seaborne crude trade from January to August 2026, the largest single-country share, although the EU as a bloc now surpasses it at 22.6%

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Conclusion

China oil imports by country from January to July 2026 were led by Russia at US$48.99 billion, Saudi Arabia at US$25.49 billion and Brazil at US$24.09 billion, with crude oil making up 70.70% of the US$243.63 billion total.

Among the top import partners, Brazil now leads seaborne crude deliveries, Russia relies on pipeline supply to stay first, and Gulf volumes remain well below 2025 levels. The pace of China's import recovery after August will decide whether Middle East suppliers regain share in Q4 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is China's biggest supplier of oil?

Russia is China's biggest supplier of oil. It supplied US$48.99 billion of HS 27 mineral fuels to China from January to July 2026, or 20.11% of the total, according to yTrade data. BMI analysts estimate Russia's share of China's crude imports rose to 23.9% year to date in 2026, up from 17.9% in 2025.

Where does China get most of its oil from by sea?

Brazil was China's largest seaborne crude supplier from January to August 2026, with 14.1% of volumes, according to Banchero Costa. Russia ranked second at 13.6% and Saudi Arabia third at 13.2%. Russia remains the largest supplier overall because it also delivers about 1 million barrels per day by pipeline.

Where does China get their oil by pipeline?

China imports crude oil by pipeline mainly from Russia, which delivers about 1 million barrels per day through overland routes. EIA estimates these pipeline volumes stayed stable in Q2 2026, even as tanker imports weakened, which helped Russia keep its position as China's top crude supplier through the first half of the year.

How much oil does China import from Russia?

China imported 1.68 million barrels per day of Russian crude by sea in August 2026, up from 1.4 million in July, according to Kpler data, plus about 1 million barrels per day by pipeline. Russia supplied approximately 20% of China's crude imports in 2025, and its share increased further in 2026. For traders asking where does China get most of their oil, Russia remains the answer across all transport modes.