China is the world’s largest crude oil importer, but its imports have fallen sharply amid the near-closure of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. In 2025, China imported an average of 11.6 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil, with Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Brazil among its largest suppliers. According to China’s General Administration of Customs, crude imports fell nearly 40% from February to May 2026, led by a steep decline in shipments from the Middle East.
Alternative export routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz have helped Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates keep some crude moving, including to China. By contrast, China’s crude oil imports from Iraq and Kuwait fell to zero in May, as both countries have little to no export capacity that bypass the Strait.
Ship-tracking data indicate that arrivals into China remain low, even as flows through the Strait have started to recover. Based on estimates through June 25, China’s seaborne crude arrivals are averaging roughly 5 mb/d, which would represent a nearly 60% decline from February 2026 if realized. Given the 20–25 day voyage time from the Middle East to China, observed imports may not begin returning to normal until late-July or August, even if Hormuz flows continue to rise before then.
