By Alexander Miller, consultant in energy markets. Eurasia Business News, July 3, 2025. Article n°1595.
China did not import any U.S. crude oil in May, marking the third consecutive month without purchasing American oil—a situation not seen since 2018. This is confirmed by U.S. Census data and reflects ongoing trade tensions between the two largest economies. The absence of Chinese purchases has significantly impacted U.S. shale producers and contributed to a sharp decline in U.S. overseas oil sales, which fell to their lowest level in two years.
Despite a recent trade truce and tariff reductions between the U.S. and China, these measures have not restored China’s imports of U.S. energy commodities. Tariffs, including retaliatory duties on crude oil and coal, remain high enough to keep U.S. oil uncompetitive in the Chinese market. As a result, China has been sourcing crude oil from other suppliers with relative ease, maintaining its status as the world’s largest oil importer without buying American crude.
In addition to crude oil, China’s imports of other major commodities such as coal, iron ore, and copper also declined in May, signaling broader concerns about the growth outlook for the Chinese economy.
The continued absence of U.S. crude oil in China’s import mix for three straight months highlights the persistent trade frictions and tariff barriers that have disrupted energy trade flows between the two countries since 2018.
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© Copyright 2025 – Eurasia Business News. Article no. 1595.
Eurasia Business News 