China Is Buying Oil Again After Months of Living Off Its Stockpiles

88 million barrels daily. 4% increase on the previous month as well, Reuters reported. Seaborne crude oil imports specifically went up by 12% in October from September, according to data from Kpler. 3% below the volume for October 2025. 1% lower than the ten-month total for 2025. 62 million barrels daily, which was in line with last year’s Saudi monthly total.

It is, however, a marked increase on earlier months this year when the war in the Middle East prompted Chinese buyers to sharply cut their purchases from the region—and overall. S. and Israeli war with Iran began at the end of February, China has relied on its huge crude oil inventories after oil prices jumped to above $100 per barrel.