Uncovering the Chinese Purchasers of Iranian Oil [UPDATED February 28, 2025]

February 28, 2025 | Claire Jungman and Daniel Roth

China is principally responsible for keeping the Iranian regime in business through oil purchases that have totaled over $140 billion since President Biden assumed office in January 2021 . Four in every five barrels of exported Iranian oil go to China. This is despite U.S. sanctions that were reimposed in 2019 and maintained under the present administration, with the stated aim of reducing Iranian oil exports to zero. China has proven the savior of Tehran by continuing to import millions of barrels of oil every single day, and imports have likely even exceeded those made when the trade was not subject to U.S. sanctions. 

While UANI has pinpointed more than 400 foreign oil-carrying “Ghost Armada” ships facilitating the trade, it has been difficult to identify the specific buyers. However, UANI obtained documentation offering major insights into the demand side of this illicit and uniquely lucrative trade. This resource provides granular and regularly updated information on the Chinese purchasers of Iran’s oil.

The Purchasers

Data received and reviewed by UANI shows that Iranian oil is being imported by China’s officially non-state, semi-independent “teapot” petrochemical refiners.  Teapots were originally permitted to import crude, subject to centrally imposed quotas, starting in July 2015. Since then, China’s economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), has granted tens of new licenses annually. Estimates of the number of teapots hover around 150.

Today, the teapots import approximately one-fifth of all China’s oil needs. Around 70% of China’s teapot oil processing takes place in the eastern coastal province of Shandong, south of Beijing and north of Shanghai. For Iranian oil purchases, the teapots manage to buy at steep discounts—at least $4 a barrel below benchmark Brent. The Iranian origin of oil is also concealed by rebranding as either Omani Crude, Iraqi Crude, Russian Urals, Bitumen Blend, Nemina, or Malaysian Blend.

The fact that teapots—rather than major state actors—are importing the bulk of Iranian oil makes sense from China’s perspective. Since the U.S. has, in fact, sanctioned Chinese state-owned imports in the past, such as Zhuhai Zhenrong, the decision to import Iranian oil via dozens of small, unaffiliated “non-state” firms helps obscure the Chinese government’s role and protect its own big firms from scrutiny, accountability, and attendant sanctions. By contrast, with their small size and limited business operations, teapots are both hard to uncover and not exposed to the U.S. financial system. In conjunction with the lack of U.S. enforcement, the threat of sanctions is, therefore, far less of a constraining factor. 

Available data - through February 2025 - shows the top teapot refinery purchasing Iranian crude is Qingdao-based Lawen Namu Petroleum Trading Co. Ltd. (Lawen Namu). Lawen Namu received at least 29 different shipments of Iranian crude oil, branded as crude, Oman crude, or Nemina. Together these shipments totaled approximately 39 million barrels of Iranian oil. UANI wrote to Lawen Namu in February 2023.

Lawen Namu is a trading company based at the key port of Qingdao in Shandong province. In January 2021, S&P Global noted that Lawen Namu’s oil imports had “jumped 212%” from the previous month, while it classified most of its imports as “blended grades” from Oman, West Africa, and Russia.”

The second biggest teapot importer is Kedama, which appears to be formally identified as Qingdao Kedama Energy Trading Co. Ltd.  Founded in June 2022, Kedama is a relative newcomer to Shandong’s burgeoning petrochemical trading scene.  Third is Shandong Dongfang Hualong Industry & Trade Group Co Ltd. (Hualong). Hualong has received at least 31 shipments of Iranian crude branded as Urals, Mal Blend, Oman, or Blue Laser. Together, these shipments totaled more than 37 million barrels of Iranian oil.

Fourth is Shangang Guomao, which has received 20 different shipments of Iranian crude oil, branded as “Crude, Forties, Malaysia or Bitumen Blend,” is third.  Together, these shipments have totaled more than 33.5 million barrels of Iranian oil.

Fifth on our list is Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., Ltd. (Shandong Shengxing), located on the northern coast of Shandong province. According to Global Trade Alert, Shandong Shengxing was granted its import license on May 23, 2018, perhaps not coincidentally, just two weeks after President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). Shengxing has received at least 29 different shipments of Iranian crude, branded as Oman crude, and Iraqi crude oil. Together, these shipments totaled approximately 28.3 million barrels of Iranian oil.  UANI wrote to Shandong Shengxing in February 2023. 

In addition to documentation obtained by UANI, the Wikiran website cites a further six teapot refineries - Lihuayi Lijin Refining & Chemical Co. Ltd Shandong Tianhong Chemical Co. Ltd Henan Fengli Petro-Chemical Co. Ltd Shandong Kenli Petrochemical Co. Ltd Qirun Group Co. Ltd Dongying Lianhe Petrochemical Group Co. Ltd. (Fuhai Group) – reportedly accounting for a monthly delivery of four million barrels over a one year period and in apparent collaboration with the Turkish energy giant, ASB Group.  The full table of teapot refiners importing Iranian oil is listed in descending order from largest importer by barrels below. UANI will continue to update this chart as we receive more information on the purchasers of Iranian oil in China [Table Updated February 28, 2025]

Refinery

Number of Shipments

Branded/Rebranded As

# of Barrels

Vessels Involved

LAWEN NAMU

29

Crude, Oman and Nemina

39,785,151

 

 

 

 

 

REBI, YODAN, ATILA, SIRI,

KYLO, ALANA, URI, GAGAN, VANI, THANE, EGRET (EX: JADEAR), FJORD SEAL

KEDAMA

25

Nemina and Mal Blend

38,893,002

YODAN , KYLO, REBI, BELLA 1, GAGAN, EGRET (EX: JADEAR), SIRI, LYDIA II, VANI, YUG, THANE, COBA, AYDEN, NIERUS

HUALONG

31

Urals, Mal Blend, Oman and Blue Laser

37,095,845

NICHOLA, PHOENIX I, ELOISE, MENG XIN, LEOPARD, IVY, RADA, BERG 1, MAGIC LADY, VERA, AMOR, AYDEN, STAR FOREST, PHONIX, CORA, RIQUEZA, GLOBAL HARVEST, MONTROSE, GATHER VIEW, VIOLA

SHANGANG GUOMAO

20

Crude, Forties, Malaysia and Bitumen Blend

33,590,557

GLOBAL HARVEST, ELOISE, ANSHUN II, CARINA, PROGRESS V, BREEZE V, PHOENIX I, TITAN, ASTERIX, AMOR, CORA, LYDIA II, FIONA, BELMA

SHANDONG SHENGXING

29

Oman, Iraq, Bitumen Blend and Mal Blend

28,344,045

VIOLA, VORAS, ANASTASIA I, FURIA, FURY, BERG 1, WILMA II, BRAVA LAKE, MENG XIN, KRASNOYARSK, RANI, NYANTARA, CUME, RESTON, AYDEN, OTARIA, STAR FOREST, JAL GAMINI, LATTAFA, SHANNON II

JINCHENG

14

Oman, Bitumen Blend, Mosa, Crude and Belayim

25,044,319

ASTERIX, LILY, CARINA, ELINE, JAYA, NATALINA 7, LUNA PRIME, GLISTAR, PHONIX, OLYM, LAN JING, SCORPIUS, LENORE

QIHANG YUANYANG/QIHANG ENERGY

16

Fujairah and Mal Blend

24,377,206 

LUCK, OXIS, BELLA 1, GLISTAR, VETER, ELVA, TREND, LIMAS, NIERUS, JETTA, SAPPHIRE, RADA

XINTAI

25

Malaysia, Nemina, Bitumen Blend, ESPO, Oman and Fuel Oil

24,138,937

FURIA, VIOLA, RANI, TELESTO, NICHOLA, ANASTASIA I, MARIGOLD, FURY, BRAVA LAKE, CUME, RESTON, RIEVERIA I, GLOBAL HARVEST, LAN JING, STAR FOREST, COBA

YUEYANG GUANSHENG

12

Bitumen Blend and Fuel Oil

18,749,902

ANABEL, LYDIA II, ARLAN, DENEB, NICHOLA, BERG 1, ELVA, FIONA, ARTEMIS III, VIGOR

GUANGHUI KAINENG

12

Mal Blend

17,132,053

RESTON, KYLO (EX: MEMPHIS), GATHER VIEW, ATILA, IVY, LYDIA II, LATTAFA, YUG, HONG LU, AYDEN, CORA

GEA

11

Mal Blend and Nemina

14,597,216

LELIA, OLYM, CARINA I, LUCK, MENG XIN, REX 1, ALA, JELA, LION KING

SHENCHI

15

Mal Blend

14,431,884

TELESTO, RADA, DOLPHIN, ARLAN, NICHOLA, ANNA, NEW MILOS, ELVA, STAR FOREST, BELMA, CARINA I, LION KING, RESTON

YINGYU ENERGY

9

Mal Blend, Oman and Urals

13,011,671

OTARIA, AMAK, GLOBAL HARVEST, PHOENIX I, BERG 1, DENEB (EX: PALMER), NIERUS, TIFANI, MENG XIN

XINYUE

13

Crude and Mal Blend

12,645,529

DENEB (EX: PALMER), ZENITH, ANNA, TELESTO, GATHER VIEW, CUME, STAR FOREST, NYANTARA, RIEVERIA I, JETTA, BESTLA

QIRUN

8

Mal Blend

8,953,653

DENEB (EX: PALMER), ANNA, VIGOR, LION KING, ARLAN, NICHOLA, BESTLA, KOEN

KELIDA

9

Crude, Oman, Iraq, Mal Blend and Nemina

8,716,385

CLYDE NOBLE, LELIA, ARLAN, OLYM, ANITA, ELVA, OTARIA, VENTURA

DONGMING

6

Fuel Oil,Mal Blend and Crude

8,216,311

DENEB (EX: PALMER), ATILA, HONG LU, NICHOLA, RIEVERIA I, BLUE GULF

TAI LE HENG

4

Mal Blend

7,847,395

ANITA, VANI, YUG, KIRIN STAR

LUQING PETROCHEMICAL

5

Mal Blend

7,625,065

VERA, IONA, LIMAS, MEHLE, LUNA PRIME

XIN RUI JI

4

Mal Blend

6,948,846

URI, YUG, NESO, KONGM

MEIJIANENG

5

Oman, Mal Blend and Bitumen Blend

6,423,348

ELOISE, EGRET (EX: JADEAR), NIERUS, YI TONG, ZENITH

XINRUN INTERNATIONAL

5

Mal Blend

6,380,911

CUME, MARIGOLD, RANI, VIZURI

HENGLI PETROCHEMICAL

4

Crude & Mal Blend

6,072,079

DAKSHA, SCORPIUS, STAR FOREST, ELIZABET

QICHENG

5

Oman, Bitumen Blend, Malaysia Blend

5,314,820

CUME, ARLAN, CORA, ATILA, STAR FOREST

BANFU ENERGY

3

Mal Blend, Nemina

4,732,148

SIRI, ALANA

ZHONGKANG/ZHONGYANG INTERNATIONAL

2

Mal Blend & Fuel Oil

4,003,824

IVY, MONIQUE

FURONGKANG

3

Crude, Oman & Mal Blend

3,804,369

IVY, TELESTO, FIONA

DINGQIAN

3

Bitumen Blend and Mal Blend

3,559,641

NYANTARA, RIEVERIA I, CUME

HEBEI XINHAI

3

Crude & Mal Blend

3,344,899

PABLO, URGANE I, HORNET

YINGKE

3

Fuel Oil & Mal Blend

3,215,930

LADY LUCY, AMOR, VERA

HANKUN ENERGY

2

Light Crude and Malaysian Blend

3,141,882

ALANA, PHONIX

GANGRUN

2

NEMINA

3,096,726

KYLO (EX: MEMPHIS), EGRET (EX: JADEAR)

HAIKE

3

Mal Blend

3,076,029

CUME, VERA

HANGSHI

2

Mal Blend

3,036,780

CHLOE, TAI HE

LITU FENGYUAN

2

Mal Blend

2,978,665

ANDROMEDA V, TITAN (EX: KASPER)

YEUYANG GUANSHENG

2

Bitumen Blend and Mal Blend

2,974,386

HORNET, BELMA

OCEANIC

5

Bitumen Blend, TBA

2,923,916

PHOENIX I, DOLPHIN, INGRID, E 

WANTONG

2

Crude

2,836,793

ERVINA, HONG LU 

HAIWANGDA

2

Bitumen Blend, Mal Blend

2,651,910

TELESTO, IVY

HUAJIN XIANGRUN

4

Mal Blend

2,639,642

PHOENIX I, PABLO, VIOLA, AMOR

XINCHI

2

Bitumen Blend and Fujairah

2,221,568

SKADI, NESS

XINRUIJI

1

Mal Blend

2,083,670

BELLA 1

CHANGFENG

1

Mal Blend

2,042,323

JAL GAMINI

SAIDI

1

Fujairah Blend

2,042,266

VIRGO

CISM

1

Mal Blend

2,012,558

LUCK

QINGHANG ENERGY

1

Fujairah

2,007,772

ALTER EGO (EX: YALE)

XIANNENG

1

Bitumen Blend

1,999,219

SCORPIUS

GUANGDONG HONGHANG

1

Crude

1,994,565

ALTER EGO (EX: YALE)

QINGGANG QULIU

1

Mal Blend

1,980,791

VERA

ZHONGYOU YIHAI

1

Fuel Oil

1,972,160

BIG MAG

HUALIAN

1

Mal Blend

1,922,205

ELINE

LZVHOU

1

Mal Blend

1,921,461

MONTROSE

HAO KUN

1

Bitumen Blend

1,921,423

LUCK

YATAI ENERGY

1

Malaysian Blend

1,919,096

LUNA PRIME

DONGYING HONGXIANG

2

Mal Blend

1,908,874

AYDEN, BESTLA

QINGAO KERUI

1

Bitumen Blend

1,907,070

VIGOR

ZHONGLIAN HARUI

1

Malaysian Blend

1,856,190

SIREN II

KAIDING

1

Crude

1,843,156

URI

HUAYOU

2

Mal Blend and Crude

1,810,641

RESTON, DOLPHIN

HAIRUN SHENGDE

2

Bitumen Blend and Mal Blend

1,731,354

LILY, NYANTARA

SINOCHEM CHANGHE

2

Bitumen Blend, Oman

1,722,944

BERG 1, RESTON

DAQI CHEMICAL

2

Condensate and Crude

1,609,034

ATLANTIS MZ, NARCISSUS

ZHONGYOU RUNHAI

2

Mal Blend

1,575,234

IVY, FURIA

GAIDA

2

Crude

1,534,340

 

ELOISE, REBI  

XINZHUOYUE

2

TBA

1,501,419

ANASTASIA I, TELESTO

YISHENGXIANG

1

Mal Blend

1,501,419

NIERUS

TAILIHENG

1

Mal Blend

1,460,000

REBI

TIANHONG

2

Mal Blend

1,380,181

RESTON, NYANTARA

OCEAN PARK

2

Mal Blend, Nemina

1,377,266

ALANA, PHOENIX I

CHAMBROAD

2

Bitumen Blend

1,291,249

RESTON, TELESTO

RONGHAI

2

Crude, Mal Blend

1,228,102

TIGER, SAMSUN

DAOYANG

2

Bitumen Blend

1,136,828

OCEAN KOI, LION KING

YINGJIRUI

1

Nemina

1,125,532

KYLO (EX: MEMPHIS)

TAIFENG HAIRUN

2

Crude

1,104,875

DOLPHIN, RADA

QINGYUAN

2

Nemina

1,093,771

KYLO (EX: MEMPHIS)

ZHENHUA

1

Crude

1,087,032

TITAN (EX: KASPER)

ZHEJIANG WUCHAN

1

Bitumen Blend

1,078,153

KYLO (EX: MEMPHIS)

JULI

1

Mal Blend

1,065,341

GLOBAL HARVEST

KAIYI PETROCHEMICAL

1

Bitumen Blend

1,035,729

LION KING

RUNCHENG

2

Bitumen Blend

1,034,667

ARINA, HORNET

ZHONGCHEN

1

Bitumen Blend

1,014,631

LALIQUE

HENGFENG

1

Mal Blend

973,389

ARLAN

GUANGJIN SHUNHE

2

Bitumen Blend

848,326

VIOLA, RANI

JINJGAO

1

Mal Blend

829,946

BIANCA JOYSEL

DINGYI

1

Oman

740,349

ALBA SUN

HAIYUE ENERGY

1

Mal Blend

737,437

NYANTARA

SHENGJU YUAN

1

Bitumen Blend

726,864

VIOLA

JINAN ZONGBAO

1

Bitumen Blend

723,421

SPIRIT

LIANRUN

1

Mal Blend

722,780

PHOENIX I

HUANHAI ENERGY

1

Singma

719,500

VENTURA

YUANTONG ZHENGDAO

1

Mal Blend

718,064

ZENITH

CGN

1

Mal Blend

717,867

CLYDE NOBLE

SHILONG

1

Crude

711,301

NYANTARA 

BEI ANG SI

1

Mal Blend

703,286

ENZO

ZHOUSHAN JIAOTOU

1

Bitumen Blend

691,500

VENTURA

HANYUAN ENERGY

1

Crude

684,399

URGANE I 

XINHAN

1

Crude

609,009

ZENITH

LIANHONG

1

Condensate

605,163

SUPER EVER

ZHONGJIAO

1

Crude

512,117

JAKA TARUB 

SHANGNENG

1

Bitumen Blend

505,250

DOLPHIN

GUANGZHOU RUBIO

1

Mal Blend

500,000

GATHER VIEW

HONGRUN

1

Mal Blend

496,900

OCEAN KOI

EDEN

1

Mal Blend

419,403

DOLPHIN

REMIS TRADING

1

Oman

265,900

FURY

 

 

 

 

 

Total

441

 

547,571,950

 

Italicization indicates the vessel was sanctioned at the time of discharge in China. 

*reportedly not affiliated with Sinochem Holding 

sHANDONG pRO
(Credit: Reuters Muyu Xu)