Chinese oil imports boom, with giant volumes going to strategic reserves. How much? Nobody knows.

by Inside China Business [11-30-2025].

China imports more oil than Saudi Arabia pumps, despite peaking domestic consumption.

Energy independence is a crucial component of Chinese national security, and vast stockpiles for oil reserves have been built, with more coming.

Western analysts can only make educated guesses as to the true size of China's oil trade and stockpiles. Huge trading volumes are done outside the US dollar, and with fleets of shadow tankers and pipelines.

China's immense presence in the oil trade is ironically keeping prices higher in Western markets, even while Chinese firm themselves buy from sanctioned companies and countries at steep discounts.

Closing scene, Hukou Waterfall, Shanxi

Brent, WTI charts from www.finviz.com

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