China partly lifts fuel export curbs, allowing 2.7 million tonnes of oil product exports

China has partially lifted the fuel export restrictions it imposed earlier this year, allowing its refiners to export 2.7 million tonnes of oil derivatives to destinations excluding Hong Kong and Macau, Reuters reported, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The report was published on Wednesday 5 August 2026.

The temporary easing of export caps applies to this month, and refiners may roll some volumes over to September if they fail to secure purchase deals for the full allotment. The new quotas cover gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Reports in late June said the Chinese government would allow state refiners to export only 800,000 tonnes of refined fuels in July.

China halted fuel exports days after the war in West Asia began and the Strait of Hormuz closed, a decision that deepened an already severe global fuel supply crunch. In June, the country's fuel oil exports rose 18% year on year to 577,000 barrels per day, the highest level since the start of 2026. The return of Chinese supply matters for product importers across the region.