China Dominates Oil Flows Through Critical Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, with both exporters and importers of crude oil heavily reliant on flows through the strait. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for Q1 2025, China receives 37.7% of all oil exports that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the most of any country.

Asian countries are most affected by a closure of the strait, receiving 89.2% of the Strait's crude oil and condensate flows. The data shows that Saudi Arabia accounts for the largest share of crude and condensate exports transiting the strait, at 37.2% of the total.

The top five exporters through the Strait of Hormuz are Gulf producers: Iraq (22.8%), the United Arab Emirates (12.9%), Iran (10.6%), and Kuwait (10.1%). These countries account for 93.6% of all crude and condensate volumes moving through the strait.