China sets 2027 non-state crude oil import allowance at 257 million tonnes
In short
China's Ministry of Commerce has published the total allowance, application conditions and procedures for non-state trade crude oil imports in 2027, setting the allowance at 257 million tonnes. Provincial commerce departments and central enterprises must submit applications to the ministry by November 15, 2026, and the first batch of allowances is to be issued to qualifying companies before the end of 2026.
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China's Ministry of Commerce has published the total allowance, application conditions and application procedures for non-state trade crude oil imports in 2027, according to reports by CLS, 36Kr, Yicai and Jiemian on October 9, 2026. The ministry said the document was drawn up under the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Import and Export of Goods and China's commitments on joining the World Trade Organization. 36Kr and Jiemian reported that the 2027 non-state trade import allowance for crude oil is 257 million tonnes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the text carried by Jiemian, applicants must have a record of using crude oil import allowances in the past two years, defined as January 2025 to October 2026, or be approved by the national industry authority as qualified to use imported crude. They must hold use rights to a crude oil wharf of no less than 50,000 tonnes, or a rail port with 2 million tonnes of annual transfer capacity, and to crude storage tanks of at least 200,000 cubic metres. Bank credit must be at least US$20 million, or 140 million yuan, and companies must operate in line with laws on work safety, environmental protection, tax, customs and foreign exchange, with no unrectified violations. [ 4 ]
Applications must include a letter describing the company, its crude purchasing, production use or sales plans, and its international oil trade staff, along with business licence copies, bank credit certificates, wharf or rail port and storage agreements, and the import crude use qualification approved by the national industry authority. Processing companies granted non-state crude import qualification by the ministry in 2026 do not need to provide most of these materials, the text says. [ 4 ]
Local companies apply through their provincial commerce departments, and subsidiaries of central enterprises apply through their group headquarters. These bodies must deliver applications to the ministry's administrative service hall in Beijing by November 15, 2026, and late submissions will not be accepted. The ministry will also consult relevant departments on applicants' compliance with laws and regulations. [ 4 ]
The first batch of allowances is to be issued to qualifying companies before the end of 2026, with later additions and adjustments based on actual imports, business needs and new lawful capacity. Companies with no import record in the past two years will no longer be allocated an allowance. Companies that cannot use their allowance must return the unused portion to the ministry before September 1 of that year, and violations will be penalised under the import and export regulations and the measures on automatic import licences, according to the text. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The allowance sets how much crude oil companies outside state trade may import in 2027. The conditions published by the ministry determine which companies can apply, and companies with no import record in the past two years will no longer receive an allowance, according to the published text carried by Jiemian.
Key facts
- The Ministry of Commerce published the 2027 total allowance, application conditions and procedures for non-state trade crude oil imports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The 2027 non-state trade crude oil import allowance is 257 million tonnes. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The ministry said the rules were drawn up under China's Regulations on the Administration of the Import and Export of Goods and its commitments on joining the WTO. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Applicants need bank credit of at least US$20 million (or 140 million yuan). [ 4 ]
- Applicants need use rights to a crude oil wharf of no less than 50,000 tonnes (or a rail port with 2 million tonnes of annual transfer capacity) and to crude storage tanks of at least 200,000 cubic metres. [ 4 ]
- Provincial commerce departments and central enterprises must deliver applications to the ministry by November 15, 2026; late applications will not be accepted. [ 4 ]
- The first batch of allowances is to be issued to qualifying companies before the end of 2026. [ 4 ]
- Companies with no import record in the past two years will no longer be allocated an allowance. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Ministry of Commerce published the 2027 total allowance, application conditions and procedures for non-state trade crude oil imports. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The 2027 non-state trade crude oil import allowance is 257 million tonnes. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The rules were drawn up under the Regulations on the Administration of the Import and Export of Goods and China's WTO accession commitments. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact date the ministry issued the announcement. 36Kr and Jiemian say only that the ministry issued it 'recently'; the reports were published on October 9, 2026.
- How the 2027 allowance compares with earlier years. None of the documents gives a figure for previous years.