Chinese customs data showed that imports from Russia reached 9.15 million tonnes in July, equivalent to 2.16 million barrels per day, an increase of 10 per cent compared with June levels.
The rise in Russian supplies occurred despite a 24.3 per cent year-on-year fall in China's total crude imports during the month, to approximately 8.41 million barrels per day.
Recorded imports from Indonesia rose 51.8 per cent year-on-year, to 3.15 million tonnes in July, equivalent to around 740,000 barrels per day. This represents a significant change compared with 2024 as a whole, when Chinese imports of Indonesian oil did not exceed approximately 100,000 tonnes.
Reuters previously noted that the sharp increase in recorded shipments from Indonesia could be linked to the reclassification of sanctioned Iranian oil cargoes after being transferred between tanker ships off the coast of Malaysia. In contrast, recorded imports from Malaysia, considered a key hub for Iranian oil transshipment, fell 64.3 per cent year-on-year, to 1.51 million tonnes, equivalent to 350,000 barrels per day.
Chinese customs data showed no direct imports from Iran during July, although estimates from tanker-tracking companies continue to indicate flows of Iranian crude to China through intermediaries and indirect routes.
China increased its imports of Brazilian oil 31.9 per cent year-on-year, to 4.98 million tonnes, equivalent to approximately 1.17 million barrels per day. The rise in imports from Russia and Brazil reflects Chinese refineries' attempts to offset a partial drop in supplies from the Middle East and diversify crude sources amid ongoing risks to cargo movement.
Chinese customs data also recorded no oil imports from the United States or Venezuela during July.
