China's Crude Oil Imports from Iran 2025 (Latest Data & Historical Trends)
China is Iran's largest oil customer, buying crude at steep discounts to global benchmarks due to US sanctions. This dataset tracks China's annual crude oil imports from Iran in volume (10,000 tons) and as a percentage of China's total crude imports. The data reveals the direct impact of US sanctions cycles — imports dropped sharply during periods of strict enforcement (2019–2020) and rebounded when enforcement loosened. In March 2026, total China-Iran bilateral trade collapsed 90% amid the Iran conflict and intensified secondary sanctions pressure.
Quick Answer
China imported 900,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Iran in 2025, representing 7% of China's total oil imports. Despite US sanctions, China-Iran oil trade has continued through indirect channels. Data covers 2010-2025, showing fluctuating volumes based on diplomatic relations and sanctions pressure.
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China's Crude Oil Imports from Iran
Data Table
51 data points| Year | Iran imports | Total imports | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0 | 1820 | 0.00 |
| 1976 | 0 | 2050 | 0.00 |
| 1977 | 0 | 2180 | 0.00 |
| 1978 | 0 | 2310 | 0.00 |
| 1979 | 0 | 1840 | 0.00 |
| 1980 | 0 | 1330 | 0.00 |
| 1981 | 0 | 1520 | 0.00 |
| 1982 | 0 | 1720 | 0.00 |
| 1983 | 0 | 1980 | 0.00 |
| 1984 | 0 | 2290 | 0.00 |
| 1985 | 0 | 2900 | 0.00 |
| 1986 | 0 | 3420 | 0.00 |
| 1987 | 0 | 3850 | 0.00 |
| 1988 | 0 | 4230 | 0.00 |
| 1989 | 0 | 4760 | 0.00 |
| 1990 | 0 | 2920 | 0.00 |
| 1991 | 0 | 5930 | 0.00 |
| 1992 | 0 | 7080 | 0.00 |
| 1993 | 0 | 8150 | 0.00 |
| 1994 | 0 | 8250 | 0.00 |
| 1995 | 0 | 9420 | 0.00 |
| 1996 | 0 | 10840 | 0.00 |
| 1997 | 0 | 12580 | 0.00 |
| 1998 | 0 | 12360 | 0.00 |
| 1999 | 0 | 13440 | 0.00 |
| 2000 | 0 | 16150 | 0.00 |
| 2001 | 0 | 21330 | 0.00 |
| 2002 | 0 | 25080 | 0.00 |
| 2003 | 0 | 34560 | 0.00 |
| 2004 | 0 | 41230 | 0.00 |
| 2005 | 0 | 51650 | 0.00 |
| 2006 | 0 | 61220 | 0.00 |
| 2007 | 0 | 70320 | 0.00 |
| 2008 | 0 | 92380 | 0.00 |
| 2009 | 2030 | 10120 | 20.06 |
| 2010 | 2130 | 11760 | 18.11 |
| 2011 | 2760 | 12530 | 22.03 |
| 2012 | 2870 | 13440 | 21.35 |
| 2013 | 2480 | 14150 | 17.53 |
| 2014 | 2750 | 15480 | 17.77 |
| 2015 | 2650 | 16670 | 15.90 |
| 2016 | 3120 | 18120 | 17.22 |
| 2017 | 3100 | 19460 | 15.94 |
| 2018 | 2930 | 20920 | 14.00 |
| 2019 | 1470 | 24280 | 6.05 |
| 2020 | 3920 | 25720 | 15.24 |
| 2021 | 5130 | 26150 | 19.62 |
| 2022 | 4050 | 28030 | 14.45 |
| 2023 | 4280 | 29070 | 14.72 |
| 2024 | 4520 | 30580 | 14.78 |
| 2025 | 4750 | 32120 | 14.79 |
About This Dataset
China is Iran's largest oil customer, buying crude at steep discounts to global benchmarks due to US sanctions. This dataset tracks China's annual crude oil imports from Iran in volume (10,000 tons) and as a percentage of China's total crude imports. The data reveals the direct impact of US sanctions cycles — imports dropped sharply during periods of strict enforcement (2019–2020) and rebounded when enforcement loosened. In March 2026, total China-Iran bilateral trade collapsed 90% amid the Iran conflict and intensified secondary sanctions pressure.
The latest row (2025) reports iran imports: 4,750.0% and total imports: 32,120.0%. The dataset spans 51 data points from 1975 to 2025, updated yearly.
API
curl https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/china-iran-oil-imports 📚 How to Cite This Data
Citation Format:
China Data Portal (2026). China's Crude Oil Imports from Iran. Retrieved from https://chinadata.live/data/china-iran-oil-imports/
Primary Source:
China Customs, General Administration of Customs China
Last Updated:
2026-07-16T15:05:42.651Z
API Access:
GET https://chinadata.live/api/v2/data/china-iran-oil-imports Frequently Asked Questions
How much oil does China import from Iran?
China imports approximately 1–1.5 million barrels per day of crude oil from Iran in normal years, making China by far Iran's largest customer. In volume terms, this represents roughly 50-80 million tons annually. However, volumes fluctuate sharply based on US sanctions enforcement — dropping to near zero during strict enforcement and rebounding when enforcement loosens.
Why does China buy Iranian oil?
China buys Iranian crude at significant discounts to international benchmarks like Brent — typically $5–$15 per barrel below market price. For China, which imports over 70% of its oil, these discounts save billions annually. Iranian oil is also a supply diversification strategy, reducing dependence on Saudi Arabia, Russia, and other major suppliers.
How do US sanctions affect China-Iran oil trade?
US sanctions directly impact China-Iran oil trade. During strict enforcement (2019-2020), Chinese imports from Iran dropped sharply. When enforcement loosened under the Biden administration, imports rebounded. In 2026, the Iran conflict and intensified secondary sanctions pressure caused total China-Iran trade to collapse — China's exports to Iran fell 90% from January to March 2026.
What percentage of China's oil comes from Iran?
Iran typically accounts for 5–10% of China's total crude oil imports, depending on the year and sanctions environment. China's total crude imports exceed 500 million tons annually, sourced from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Angola, Brazil, and other suppliers. Iran's share fluctuates more than any other supplier due to geopolitical factors.
What is the data source?
This data is sourced from China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) official statistical releases. Note that some analysts believe official figures may understate actual Iran oil flows, as some Iranian crude enters China relabeled as originating from Malaysia, Oman, or UAE.