Russia Exports Record Crude to China

Moscow overtakes Saudi Arabia as top crude supplier to China amid rising demand and Western sanctions

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Russia's seaborne crude shipments to China hit a record 1.86 million barrels per day in January, up 46% year-on-year, as Moscow reroutes energy exports to Asia in response to Western sanctions. China's energy imports from Russia have more than quadrupled over the past decade, with Russia now surpassing Saudi Arabia as China's top crude supplier.

Why it matters

The shift in Russia's energy exports to China is reshaping the Asian oil trade, as Moscow secures a major buyer for its crude while China obtains discounted supply with limited additional risk amid Western sanctions. This deepening energy partnership between Russia and China also highlights the growing economic ties between the two countries as they seek to bypass "artificial barriers" to trade created by the US.

The details

In January, Russia's seaborne crude shipments to China reached a record 1.86 million barrels per day, up 46% year-on-year. This surge in exports pushed Moscow past Saudi Arabia to become China's top crude supplier for the month, with Russia's shipments 46% higher than Saudi Arabia's roughly 1.2 million bpd. The rise in Russian supplies follows weaker Indian and Turkish demand amid sanctions and trade pressures, while China is also reportedly ramping up imports of Urals crude, a major Russian export grade.

  • In January 2026, Russia's seaborne crude shipments to China hit a record 1.86 million barrels per day.
  • Over the past decade, China's total energy imports more than doubled, while imports from Russia rose more than fourfold.

The players

Russia

A major global energy exporter that has rerouted most of its energy exports to Asia, particularly to India and China, in response to Western sanctions.

China

The world's largest energy importer, whose demand for crude oil has driven record imports from Russia, making it China's top crude supplier.

Saudi Arabia

A long-standing major crude supplier to China, which has now been surpassed by Russia as China's top crude supplier.

Aleksandr Daniltsev

The Director of the Trade Policy Institute at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), who provided analysis on the trends in Russia-China energy trade.

Donald Trump

The former US President who has threatened secondary sanctions and tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy.

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What they’re saying

“Physical volumes are increasing steadily. The overall trend will remain upward.”

— Aleksandr Daniltsev, Director, Trade Policy Institute, National Research University Higher School of Economics (RT.com)

“If tensions escalate, for example with Iran, a key supplier to China, Russia's importance could increase further.”

— Aleksandr Daniltsev, Director, Trade Policy Institute, National Research University Higher School of Economics (RT.com)

“With the US creating "artificial barriers" to trade and energy, BRICS nations need to look for new, secure ways to advance financial, economic, and infrastructure projects.”

— Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (RT.com)

What’s next

Experts say the deepening energy ties between Russia and China are reshaping the Asian oil trade, and further developments in the Middle East could potentially boost Russia's role as a key energy supplier to China.

The takeaway

Despite Western sanctions, Russia is successfully rerouting its energy exports to China, which has become its largest buyer. This shift is not only reshaping the Asian oil trade but also highlighting the growing economic partnership between Moscow and Beijing as they seek to bypass US-led trade barriers.