Amid escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, China has significantly boosted its crude oil imports from Canada while cutting back on U.S. supplies.
Last month, China’s crude oil imports from Canada surged to a record high of 7.3 million barrels, according to energy market analytics firm Vortexa.
In contrast, purchases of U.S. crude—which peaked at 29 million barrels in June 2024—have plummeted to an average of just 3 million barrels per month in recent months.
The shift is widely seen as a direct consequence of the ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has imposed additional tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods.
In retaliation, Beijing has raised duties on U.S. imports to as high as 125%, including a 10% additional tariff on American crude oil introduced in February.
Canadian crude is known to be relatively cheaper than U.S. oil, with higher density and sulfur content. However, industry analysts note that Chinese refiners are well-equipped to process it.
