Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in China
China: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 18.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Fuel imports in China, 1984–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, fuel imports in China stood at 18.1%.
The figure is down 11.6% on the previous year and up 39.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in China peaked at 21.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1985.
China ranks 63rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in China, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 0.5% | — |
| 1985 | 0.4% | -19.8% |
| 1986 | 1.2% | +193.9% |
| 1987 | 1.2% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 4.4% | +261.9% |
| 1993 | 5.6% | +26.3% |
| 1994 | 3.5% | -37.7% |
| 1995 | 3.9% | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | +27.6% |
| 1997 | 7.2% | +46.1% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | -33.3% |
| 1999 | 5.4% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 9.5% | +76.0% |
| 2001 | 7.4% | -21.5% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 7.5% | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 9.2% | +22.0% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | +15.1% |
| 2006 | 12.4% | +17.2% |
| 2007 | 12.1% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 16.3% | +34.7% |
| 2009 | 13.5% | -17.1% |
| 2010 | 14.7% | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 17.0% | +16.1% |
| 2012 | 18.7% | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 17.6% | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 12.9% | -26.0% |
| 2016 | 12.1% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 14.6% | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 17.5% | +19.8% |
| 2019 | 17.9% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | -21.2% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +14.1% |
| 2022 | 20.6% | +28.5% |
| 2023 | 21.0% | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 20.4% | -2.9% |
| 2025 | 18.1% | -11.6% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 18.1% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 12.9%, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 18.1% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.0%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +261.9% | 1.2% | 4.4% |
| 1986 | +193.9% | 0.4% | 1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.2% | 4 |
| 1990s | 5.0% | 3.5% | 7.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 10.5% | 6.9% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.0% | 12.1% | 18.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.4% | 14.1% | 21.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More energy & mining data for China
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 16.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in China?
- Fuel imports in China was 18.1% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 21.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1985.
- How does China rank for fuel imports?
- China ranks 63rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.