China has sharply increased its intake of Iranian oil after Beijing issued a new round of import quotas that allow private refineries to tap into crude stored on tankers waiting offshore. The move has propelled Iranian oil shipments to historic highs and further solidified China’s position as Tehran’s largest energy customer.
According to industry reports, the fresh quotas—allocated at the end of November—total an estimated 7–8 million tonnes and were distributed among more than 20 independent “teapot” refiners. These allowances unlocked long-stalled deliveries, enabling two supertankers loaded with Iranian crude to finally discharge at Chinese ports this week.
One Panama-flagged vessel carrying 2 million barrels successfully unloaded at the port of Rizhao in Shandong province.
Energy analytics firms estimate that China’s imports of Iranian crude have now surged to nearly 2 million barrels per day, marking a historic peak. A source cited in the reporting noted:
“The new quotas have accelerated intake volumes, allowing refiners to process oil that had been waiting offshore for months.”
To maintain momentum and ensure timely delivery, Iran has widened its discounts to Chinese buyers—a strategy that has supported steady flows despite renewed nuclear-related sanctions reimposed by the United Nations in September.
China does not list Iranian crude in its official customs data due to U.S. sanctions, yet it has been Iran’s top oil customer since 2019, when Washington tightened restrictions on global buyers of Iranian energy. With demand rising and new quotas in place, analysts expect China’s intake of Iranian crude to remain robust in the coming months, further strengthening energy ties between Beijing and Tehran.
