A Glance of China Oil Market 20260525

Weekly News

China's Apr ethane imports surge over 170% on cost edge, robust demand

China expanded ethane imports further in April, as conflicts disrupted traditional petrochemical feedstocks from the Middle East, while enhanced cost advantage of U.S.-sourced ethane over naphtha and LPG. Moreover, domestic ethane cracking capacity has been in a fast growth. The country imported 1.14 million tonnes of liquefied ethane in April, setting a new monthly record, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC). This represents a 71.82% jump from March and a staggering 170.77% increase year-on-year. Read Full Story

China's Apr naphtha imports plunge 26.89%, as Mideast supply halts

China's naphtha imports continued to go downward in April. Due to the ongoing conflict and blockage in the Strait of Hormuz, naphtha supplies from the Middle East have been almost entirely cut off. China's naphtha imports fell sharply to 626,300 tonnes in April 2026, a month-on-month drop of 230,300 tonnes or 26.89% according to data from the General Administration of Customs of PRC (GACC). However, the cumulative import volume was around 5.34 million tonnes in January-April, an increase of 854,400 tonnes compared with the same period last year, representing a growth rate of 19.04%. Read Full Story

China Apr MTBE exports down 39.15% MoM

According to the General Administration of Customs of the PRC, China's MTBE exports fell sharply month-on-month (MoM) in April 2026, with net export growth slowing notably, while Jan-Apr cumulative exports still posted strong year-on-year (YoY) growth and export destinations remained highly concentrated. In April, China exported 535,300 tonnes of MTBE, down 39.15% MoM; net exports totaled 535,000 tonnes, down 39.18% MoM, with the MoM growth rate down 90.90%. Jan-Apr cumulative exports hit 2.4895 million tonnes, surging 110.27% YoY. Read Full Story