China’s oil imports from Russia jump 55% year on year: Data

China’s crude oil imports from Russia soared to a record level in May, customs data showed on Monday, as Beijing ramps up its purchase of oil at discounted prices amid Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

China’s imports of Russian crude hit a record of 8.42 million metric tons in May, a jump of 55% from a year earlier, the data showed.

The jump in import made Russia China’s top supplier of oil overtaking Saudi Arabia.