Customs data confirms that refiners are moving away from traditional Middle Eastern reliance, increasingly sourcing Russian ESPO crude and exploring rare supply routes from destinations like Argentina. This uptick follows a sharp contraction in June, when import volumes hit a decade-low of 7.1 million barrels per day. With Beijing having previously stockpiled approximately 1.4 billion barrels, the state-led sector held the leverage to throttle back purchases during periods of high global pricing.

The rebound is inextricably linked to the government’s decision to relax export curbs on refined products. By boosting fuel exports by 29% in August to reach 6 million tons, Chinese refiners have successfully captured healthy margins during a period of acute international diesel shortages. According to Vortexa analyst Emma Li, the surge in crude processing is a direct response to these favorable export conditions, a trend that appears to be sustaining momentum through September.