Three large international analytical companies specializing in the Marine Transport and Energy market reported a significant increase in Iranian oil purchase in March 2025 by China.
According to Vortexa, monitoring marine transportation, the import of oil from Iran exceeded 1.8 million barrels a day last month, reaching a historical maximum in March. In parallel, the company noted an increase in the level of oil reserves in the province of Shandun, a large oil center in China.
Platts estimated the volume of Iranian oil imports into China in March of 1.91 million barrels of oil, which is 11% higher than the previous record set in August 2024
The analytical company KPLER appreciated the March import of Iranian oil into China at 1.37 million barrels, noting that this is a five -month maximum.
In any case, the data of all monitoring companies indicate that 90% of Iranian oil is purchased by China (which is about 13% of the total Chinese oil procurement), and are purchased with a significant discount from the market price.
Analysts associate the growth of the purchase of Iranian oil with the desire of the PRC to have time to increase reserves to tightening anti -Iranian sanctions aimed at combating the tanker “shadow” fleet and bypass supplies.