China’s oil imports from Russia jumped to a record high in May, Chinese government data showed on Tuesday, as private refiners continue to snap up sanctioned ESPO and Urals crude shipments at discounts.
Arrivals from Russia totalled 9.71 million metric tons in May, or 2.29 million barrels per day (bpd). Shipments were up 15.3 per cent from 1.50 million bpd in the same month last year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
This represented the highest level on record, and a 32.4 per cent increase on April’s figure of 1.73 million bpd.
