China Increases Russian Oil Imports Amid Global Sanctions

The Government of China increased its imports of Russian oil in January 2026, absorbing supply previously destined for India and Turkey. Data from LSEG and Kpler indicates China is expected to receive nearly 1.5 million barrels per day by sea, with Russian Urals imports reaching a record 405,000 barrels per day.

This surge follows sweeping sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union in late 2025 against Russian oil sellers and shippers, including Rosneft and Lukoil. These measures, combined with a European Union ban on fuels produced from Russian crude, pressured India and Turkey to reduce their intake. India lowered purchases to below 1 million barrels per day in December to diversify its supply, while Turkey reduced Urals imports to approximately 250,000 barrels per day in January.

The resulting surplus of Urals barrels pressured market prices. In late 2025, discounts for shipments to China reached as much as $12 per barrel below the ICE Brent benchmark.