Russian Oil Exports to China Surge in January

China is set to ramp up imports of Russian oil in January, absorbing barrels that would have previously gone to India and Turkey, as tougher Western sanctions force Moscow to redirect flows, LSEG data and traders said, Reuters reported.

China is poised to receive nearly 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil by sea this month. (Photo: ПАО «НК «Роснефть» Facebook) 

The United States and the European Union (EU) imposed sweeping sanctions in late 2025 targeting Russian oil sellers and shippers, including energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, complicating purchases for global buyers and tightening scrutiny on Russian crude exports.

China is poised to receive nearly 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil by sea this month, compared with 1.1 million bpd in December, according to preliminary LSEG data.

Beijing, already a key consumer of Russian Far East ESPO Blend, also boosted imports of Russian Urals oil to a record high of 405,000 bpd in January — the highest since mid-2023 — data provided by energy consultancy Kpler showed.

India, previously the largest buyer of Russian Urals by sea since the EU embargo on Moscow’s oil in 2022, slashed purchases to below 1 million bpd in December, down from an average of 1.3 million bpd last year, LSEG data showed. Indian refiners are expected to keep Russian oil imports near 1 million bpd in January as they diversify supply sources.

Turkey, also a major Russian oil buyer, reduced Urals imports in January to about 250,000 bpd, compared with an average of 275,000 bpd in 2025 and well below the record 400,000 bpd reached in June last year.