China’s imports of Iranian oil surged sharply in June, as shipments accelerated ahead of the recent flare-up in Middle East tensions and independent refiners ramped up demand.
According to Vortexa data, China—the world’s largest oil importer—received over 1.8 million barrels per day of Iranian crude between June 1 and 20, marking a record high based on the company’s tracking.
Data from Kpler indicates that China’s average imports of Iranian oil and condensates reached 1.46 million barrels per day through June 27, up from around 1 million barrels per day in May, according to Reuters.
This rise is attributed to the unloading of large shipments of Iranian oil en route to China, following a surge in Tehran’s exports to 1.83 million barrels per day in May—the highest level in several years.
Xu Muyu, a senior analyst at Kpler, noted that independent Chinese refineries showed strong demand for Iranian crude, especially as their inventories remained low.
She added that any potential easing of sanctions on Tehran by U.S. President Donald Trump could further boost China’s purchases of Iranian crude in the coming months
