This is reported by RBK-Ukraine referencing Reuters. It is also mentioned by Kontrakty.UA.
According to the General Administration of Customs of China, shipments from Russia, including pipeline and maritime deliveries, amounted to 108.5 million tons, which is equivalent to 2.17 million barrels per day.
As per Reuters, maritime shipments from Russia were sustained by demand from both independent refineries and large state-owned oil companies, as well as a government directive to build reserves.
Saudi Arabia, the largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), supplied 78.64 million tons, or about 1.57 million barrels per day, which is lower than the 2023 figure of 1.72 million barrels per day.
Throughout most of 2024, China's imports of Saudi crude oil were limited by the increasing share of cheaper oil from Russia and Iran due to higher prices. Saudi Arabia's market share rebounded in the fourth quarter after a sharp price drop from the OPEC leader and reduced supplies from Iran.
The total volume of crude oil imports to China, the world's largest crude oil buyer, decreased by 1.9% last year, marking the first annual decline excluding the downturn caused by the pandemic, as sluggish economic growth and peak fuel demand reduced purchases.
Hostile China
Recall that in September 2024, Jens Stoltenberg, who served as NATO Secretary General, stated that China has become a decisive factor supporting Russia's war against Ukraine. "China is the one supplying the production of many types of weapons used by Russia," Stoltenberg said.
Beijing has provided diplomatic and economic support to Russia since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
According to a survey by the Razumkov Center, the majority of Ukrainians view China as a hostile country. Ukrainians have the worst opinion of only Russia and its allies - Iran, Belarus, and North Korea.