Sign up for our free China-Africa Week in Review email newsletter
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow CAP on Social Media

Listen to the CAP Podcast

Where Does China Buy Its Oil?

by Eric Claude Olander

Africa’s share of China’s oil imports has been steadily declining over the past 15 years but the continent nonetheless remains Beijing’s second-largest source of crude after the Persian Gulf.

In 2008, according to George Washington University China-Africa scholar David Shinn, China imported close to 30% of its oil from Angola, the Republic of Congo and Sudan. Today, that figure is down to just 18%.

Interestingly, this chart does not include the U.S. which is fast becoming one of China’s largest suppliers of both oil and liquified natural gas.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Connect with leading professionals on the China- Africa Experts Network.

You’ve reached your free monthly article limit.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Click Here to Learn More

You Might Like

Reality Check: Africa is an Important Source of Oil for China, But Not THAT Important

With this week’s warning from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that China’s growing presence in key regions like the Middle East, Africa, and even Europe presents a new challenge for the western military alliance, social media ...

15-Years Ago Three African Countries Were Among China’s Top Oil Suppliers, Today Only One’s Left

Amid the ongoing discussions surrounding African debt restructuring and the proposed multibillion-dollar China-Iran comprehensive partnership agreement, China’s oil procurement is a through-line that binds some of these disparate issues together.

Chinese Oil Buying From Saudi Arabia Surges, Likely at Africa’s Expense

Saudi Arabia is emerging as an increasingly important hub on China’s Belt and Road Initiative as Beijing turns to the Kingdom for an increasingly large share of its oil procurement. Last year, ...

What is The China-Africa Project?

Independent

The CAP is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Africa stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalist and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Africa discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe