- China imported over 57 million tonnes of Iranian or suspected Iranian crude in the first ten months of 2025, defying U.S. sanctions.
- The rerouted shipments through Indonesia and ship-to-ship transfers, keeping Iranian oil flows robust despite tighter restrictions.
China has again set a record for Iranian crude imports. This contradicts recent Western media claims that U.S. sanctions in October had halted Tehran’s oil exports. Data from tanker-tracking firm Kpler shows China received over 57 million tonnes of oil of Iranian or suspected Iranian origin in the first ten months of 2025. More than 51 million tonnes arrived through ship-to-ship (STS) transfers.
Seven months after U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright claimed that Washington could “stop Iran’s oil exports,” the United States imposed stricter sanctions in mid-October. These sanctions targeted individuals, companies, vessels, and refineries linked to Iran. Yet China’s import volumes remained robust. The country rerouted shipments through new channels, demonstrating strategic planning and adaptability in energy procurement.
In mid-November, the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) reported that Iran’s October exports exceeded two million barrels per day, the highest level in 2025. The think tank added, “Iran is moving freely in the tanker war.” This highlights the limited impact of U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile, China’s imports from Indonesia surged sharply, drawing attention from analysts. Chinese customs data shows crude imports from Indonesia jumped from under 100,000 tonnes in 2024 to 9.81 million tonnes by the end of October 2025. This equals roughly 235,570 barrels per day. Indonesia’s own records, however, show only 1.7 million tonnes exported from January to September, with just 25,000 tonnes sent to China.
Traders explain that China now uses Indonesia as a gateway. Iranian oil undergoes STS transfers near Malaysian waters before being re-documented under a new origin. Previously, it entered China as “Malaysian oil,” but tighter Malaysian monitoring prompted the switch.
Pankaj Srivastava of Rystad Energy notes that regulatory scrutiny in Indonesia may be lighter. If oversight rises, traders will adjust the declared origin again. Chinese customs data also shows imports from Malaysia fell from 8.5 million tonnes in March to roughly half by July.
Kpler confirms that China’s daily imports of Iranian or suspected Iranian oil averaged 1.37 million barrels per day in the first ten months of 2025. These figures, along with discrepancies in reported exports, show that covert Iranian oil routes remain fully operational. Claims that sanctions have stopped Iran’s exports do not align with market realities. They highlight the ongoing challenge Washington faces in limiting Tehran’s energy trade.