China’s Oil Imports Hit Four-Year Low as Hormuz Closure Disrupts Supply

In April 2026, China’s crude oil imports fell 20 % year-on-year to 38.5 million metric tons, the lowest level since July 2022. The decline coincided with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which Reuters identified as the immediate cause of the supply shortfall for the world’s largest oil importer.

Energy crisis hits Beijing: Chinese oil imports plummet to record lows and fuel exports freezeReuters

The closure stems from the ongoing Iran-Iraq war, which has rendered the strait—the world’s most important waterway for Middle-East oil—largely inoperable. China sources roughly half of its crude oil from the Middle East, making the strait a critical conduit for its energy security. The disruption has therefore directly choked the flow of tankers destined for Chinese ports.

Energy crisis hits Beijing: Chinese oil imports plummet to record lows and fuel exports freeze

Customs data released on 9 May shows a 20 % drop in total crude imports and a 13 % decline in natural-gas imports, which fell to 8.42 million tons. Ship-tracking firm Kpler reported seaborne crude arrivals at 8.03 million barrels per day, also the lowest since July 2022. Refined-product exports—primarily gasoline and jet fuel—slid to 3.1 million tons, a decade-low and roughly one-third lower than March. The customs figures include shipments to Hong Kong, a major destination that is excluded from the export-control regime, potentially inflating the export total. For the first four months of 2026, China’s crude imports total 185.3 million tons, 1.3 % above the same period in 2025. Vortexa estimated that crude inventories rose by 17 million barrels in April, though the firm expects a reversal in May.

ReutersEnergy crisis hits Beijing: Chinese oil imports plummet to record lows and fuel exports freeze

Beijing responded by tightening controls on refined-product shipments to safeguard domestic supply and strategic reserves. The policy aimed to limit gasoline and jet-fuel exports, a move that produced the decade-low export figure reported for April. Export controls do not apply to shipments to Hong Kong, which are normally a major destination for refined products.

Energy crisis hits Beijing: Chinese oil imports plummet to record lows and fuel exports freeze

Chinese customs figures do not differentiate between seaborne and pipeline deliveries, creating uncertainty about the exact composition of the import decline. Kpler’s seaborne estimate provides a narrower view but cannot be reconciled with the aggregate customs total. Additionally, the natural-gas data does not separate liquefied natural gas from overland pipeline supplies, limiting insight into the relative impact on each source.

Reuters

The contraction could impact global fuel prices and Beijing’s ability to maneuver in international politics related to the ongoing conflict.

Energy crisis hits Beijing: Chinese oil imports plummet to record lows and fuel exports freezeReuters

Vortexa expects the 17-million-barrel rise in crude stocks observed in April to reverse in May.

Reuters