According to industry analytics released on October 20, 2026, by Vortexa, Gulf energy exporters are capturing additional market share in China amid regional transport disruptions and declining Iranian deliveries.
Total crude arrivals into China from the Middle East are projected to reach approximately 4.5 million barrels per day in October 2026. Vortexa reported that Saudi Arabia and Iraq are driving this recovery, accounting for more than two-thirds of China's non-Iranian crude imports from the Middle East.
Saudi crude shipments to Chinese ports are expected to exceed 2 million barrels per day for October 2026. Approximately 75 percent of those deliveries are allocated directly to Chinese state-owned energy companies Sinopec and PetroChina, underscoring long-term supply arrangements and maritime connectivity between Gulf producers and Chinese refineries.
Sources
- UECN · 2026-10-20
