--- title: "China’s July oil imports rebound as US halts Saudi crude for first time since 1985" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/business/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/business/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198" category: "Business & Economy" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-08-07T10:25:30.541Z" source_reported: "2026-08-07T09:07:28.000Z" updated: "2026-08-07T10:25:30.541Z" trust_score: 86 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-07T12:44:17.351Z" --- # China’s July oil imports rebound as US halts Saudi crude for first time since 1985 *Customs data show China’s crude imports rose 22% in July, while US imports from Saudi Arabia fell to zero barrels.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 86 of 100, higher is better. Trust 86: multiple independent outlets, named persons, and cited customs data and EIA figures support the facts. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: explains impact, quotes experts, separates facts from analysis, provides specific data and future outlook. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no clickbait or exaggerated claims beyond the reported data. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - China’s crude oil imports rose 22% in July to 8.45 million barrels per day, reversing a three-month decline, according to customs data. - The US imported no Saudi crude in July 2026, the first time since 1985, as the Strait of Hormuz closure disrupted Middle Eastern supply routes. - China’s strategic crude oil inventories stood at nearly 1.4 billion barrels as of December 2025, allowing it to reduce imports without immediate supply pressure. - US imports of Middle Eastern crude are set to rise in August to about 600,000 barrels per day, the highest since the Iran war began, ship-tracking data show. China’s crude oil imports rose 22% in July 2026 to an average of 8.45 million barrels per day, reversing a three-month decline that had brought imports to a near-decade low in June. Customs data, cited by Bloomberg, show the rebound followed a brief reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in late June, which eased supply constraints from the Middle East. The US imported no crude oil from Saudi Arabia in July 2026, the first time since 1985 that imports fell to zero barrels for an entire month. Bloomberg, citing US Department of Energy data, reported the halt as a result of disruptions in the Persian Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data show US imports of Middle Eastern crude are set to rise in August to about 600,000 barrels per day, the highest since the Iran war began. China’s strategic crude oil inventories stood at nearly 1.4 billion barrels as of December 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The stockpile allowed China to reduce imports in the first half of 2026 without immediate supply pressure. Refiners drew on inventories rather than pay wartime premiums, though analysts expect imports to rise if prices fall. ## Where the reports disagree Reports diverge on whether China’s July rebound in crude imports will continue. CNBC, citing Capital Economics, reported that import volumes are expected to stall or reverse in August as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and oil prices rise. Oil Price did not address August projections but noted that China’s state-run refiner Sinopec had boosted purchases of Russian crude for delivery in the third quarter. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention China’s strategic crude oil inventories or the 22% rise in its July imports. None of the left-rated or centre-rated digests mention that US imports of Middle Eastern crude are set to rise in August to about 600,000 barrels per day, as reported by Times of India and Maritime Reporter. ## Who covered it Shares of the 12 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 8% (1) - Centre: 34% (4) - Right: 58% (7) 3 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-07T12:44:17.351Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-07T14:45:28.989Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The CNBC report led on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on China’s crude imports. It quoted Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics, who said the rebound in July "was supported by the short-lived reopening of the Strait of Hormuz at the end of Q2," and Tianchen Xu of the Economist Intelligence Unit, who said China is an "opportunistic buyer of oil" that would only resume large-scale purchases if prices fell sustainably. The report also noted that China’s strategic crude oil inventories reached nearly 1.4 billion barrels as of December 2025. ### Centre - The three centre-rated digests led on the rebound in China’s crude imports and the halt in US Saudi crude imports. Oil Price’s full report focused on China’s strategic oil inventories, stating that as of December 2025, China held "the world’s biggest stockpile of oil inventories at 1.397 billion barrels," which allowed it to reduce imports without immediate supply pressure. It also reported that Sinopec had acquired 30-40 shipments of Russian ESPO crude for delivery between July and September. Transport Topics and Maritime Reporter’s digests highlighted the US halt in Saudi crude imports and the expected rise in US Middle Eastern crude imports in August. ### Right - The six right-rated digests led on the US halt in Saudi crude imports. Seeking Alpha, Korrespondent.net, Mehr News Agency, Reformatorisch Dagblad, Financial Post, and Times of India all reported that US imports of Saudi crude fell to zero barrels in July for the first time since 1985. Korrespondent.net and Mehr News Agency attributed the halt to "interruptions in supplies from the Persian Gulf," while Reformatorisch Dagblad cited the "war in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz." Times of India and Maritime Reporter’s digest noted that US imports of Middle Eastern crude are set to rise in August to the highest level since the Iran war began. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 5 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Handelsblatt](https://handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/industrie/irankrieg-sinkende-china-importe-staerken-basf-lanxess-und-evonik/100244910.html) — Iran War: Sinking China Imports Strengthen BASF, Lanxess and Evonik - [Seeking Alpha](https://seekingalpha.com/news/4628952-us-crude-imports-from-saudi-arabia-hit-zero-in-july-oil-benchmarks-head-for-8-weekly-loss) — US crude imports from Saudi Arabia hit zero in July; oil benchmarks head for 8% weekly loss (USO:NYSEARCA) - [Oil Price](https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Chinas-Crude-Imports-Bounce-Back-After-Historic-June-Slump.html) — China’s Crude Imports Bounce Back After Historic June Slump - [Rigzone](https://rigzone.com/news/wire/china_monthly_crude_imports_rebound-07-aug-2026-184317-article) — China Monthly Crude Imports Rebound - [Korrespondent.net](https://korrespondent.net/business/economics/4900819-saudovskaia-neft-yschezla-s-rynka-ssha-vpervye-za-40-let) — Saudi Oil Has Disappeared From the US Market for the First Time in 40 Years. - [CNBC](https://cnbc.com/2026/08/07/china-crude-imports-july-hormuz-iran-war-.html) — Hormuz closure clouds China's crude imports after they hit a 3-month high in July - [Mehr News Agency](https://mehrnews.com/news/6910074/%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%A7-%D9%BE%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%DA%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%87) — Saudi Arabia's Oil Imports to the US Drop to Zero After Four Decades - [Energy News for the United States Oil & Gas Industry | EnergyNow.com](https://energynow.com/2026/08/us-is-set-to-import-most-middle-east-crude-since-iran-war-began) — US is Set to Import Most Middle East Crude Since Iran War Began - Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events - [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/1158702-amerikaanse-import-saudische-olie-gezakt-naar-nul-vaten-in-juli) — US Imports of Saudi Oil Dropped to Zero Barrels in July - [Transport Topics](https://ttnews.com/articles/saudi-crude-oil-us-zero) — Saudi crude oil shipments to U.S. plunge to zero - [Financial Post](https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/saudi-crude-shipments-to-us-plunge-to-zero-as-oil-refiners-pivot) — Saudi Crude Shipments to US Plunge to Zero as Oil Refiners Pivot - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/us-is-set-to-import-most-middle-east-crude-since-iran-war-began/articleshow/133011650.cms) — US is set to import most Middle East crude since Iran war began - [Maritime Reporter](https://marinelink.com/news/us-import-highest-quantity-middle-eastern-541865) — US Will Import Highest Quantity of Middle Eastern Crude Since Start of War - [La Tribune](https://latribune.fr/article/economie/85349731220976/les-ravages-de-la-guerre-au-moyen-orient-sur-les-salaires-et-linvestissement-en-france) — The Ravages of the Middle East War on Wages and Investment in France - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/energy/us-is-set-import-most-middle-east-crude-since-iran-war-began-2026-08-06) — US is set to import most Middle East crude since Iran war began ## Questions **How much did China’s crude oil imports rise in July 2026?** China’s crude oil imports rose 22% in July 2026 to an average of 8.45 million barrels per day, according to customs data cited by Bloomberg. The rebound followed a three-month decline that had brought imports to a near-decade low in June. **Why did US imports of Saudi crude fall to zero in July 2026?** US imports of Saudi crude fell to zero barrels in July 2026 for the first time since 1985, as disruptions in the Persian Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz halted Middle Eastern supply routes. Bloomberg, citing US Department of Energy data, reported the halt. **What are China’s strategic crude oil inventories?** China’s strategic crude oil inventories stood at nearly 1.4 billion barrels as of December 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The stockpile allowed China to reduce imports in the first half of 2026 without immediate supply pressure. **Will US imports of Middle Eastern crude rise in August 2026?** Yes, US imports of Middle Eastern crude are set to rise in August 2026 to about 600,000 barrels per day, the highest since the Iran war began, according to ship-tracking data reported by Times of India and Maritime Reporter. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/business/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "China’s July oil imports rebound as US halts Saudi crude for first time since 1985", https://mediabias.news/business/chinas-july-oil-imports-rebound-as-us-halts-saudi-crude-for-first-time-since-198