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China oil-buying slowdown threatens key crude price buffers
China cut June crude imports to a decade low, with volumes estimated at 4.4 million barrels per day lower than the 2025 average, removing a demand backstop.
OilPrice reports the oil market could be losing the supply and demand buffers that have previously helped prevent crude from spiking to record levels during the disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
The article points to dangerously low inventories of crude and fuels in key markets, including the United States, and says that most of the crude from a large coordinated stock release has already reached refiners, leaving less margin against tighter conditions.
China may also reduce its role as a demand cushion, with the outlet citing a near-absence of Chinese crude purchases and decade-low import volumes during recent weeks after high prices and constrained Middle East supply.
According to official Chinese customs data highlighted by OilPrice, China slashed total crude oil imports to a decade low in June, dropping 41.3% year over year to 29.27 million tons, or 7.12 million barrels per day.
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