United Daily News (UDN), one of Taiwan’s leading media outlets, recently reported that, according to China Customs statistics, China’s imports of the three major energy sources from the United States – coal, crude oil, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) – were nearly zero in June.
Since the launch of the U.S.-China trade war by President Trump, Chinese buyers have gradually reduced their purchases of American energy and diversified their supply sources. As the world’s largest crude oil importer, China did not buy any U.S. crude oil in June – the first time this has happened in nearly three years. For comparison, in June of last year, China imported almost $800 million worth of American crude oil.
U.S. LNG exports to China remained at zero for the fourth consecutive month in June. Coal exports from the U.S. to China also dropped for the second straight month, amounting to only a few hundred dollars – a stark contrast to the $90 million worth of U.S. coal imported by China in June last year. Currently, China relies heavily on Saudi Arabia and Russia for its crude oil supplies.
In addition to energy, China’s imports of U.S. agricultural products – including corn – have also declined in recent months. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, China has made no forward purchases of U.S. soybeans or corn for the 2025–26 season. At the same time, China is ramping up domestic natural gas production in a bid to enhance its energy security.
Source: UDN, July 25, 2025
https://udn.com/news/story/7331/8895383