China’s General Administration of Customs reported a 26% increase in imports of Russian crude oil from January to April 2026 compared to the same period last year. The Russian Federation has successfully maintained its status as the largest exporter of crude to the Chinese market, outperforming other international trade participants in key metrics.

The total volume of Russian crude purchased by China over the last four months reached 40.83 million tons, which in monetary terms amounted to $20.4 billion, reflecting a 21.5% increase. In April 2026, Chinese importers acquired 8.97 million tons of oil, marking a 10.8% decrease in physical imports from Russia compared to March. However, the overall value of April shipments rose by 18.6% month-on-month, reaching $6.31 billion.

Saudi Arabia ranked second in China’s import structure, reducing its supply volumes by 10.3% to 22.97 million tons during this period. Brazil, in third place, increased its exports by 84%, delivering 20.91 million tons of crude to Chinese factories. Malaysia secured the fourth position with a delivery of 17.49 million tons, representing a 33% decrease, while Indonesia rounded out the top five, increasing shipments by 122 times to 14.1 million tons.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated recently that the Russian side is fully satisfied with the current cooperation on oil and gas supplies. The government representative announced plans for negotiations aimed at strengthening the partnership. During a visit by a government delegation to Beijing, Russia and China plan to discuss joint energy projects in detail.