Commerce between China and Iran is declining:
China's exports to Iran fell to $6.93 billion in 2025, the lowest in at least 11 years.
This is down -63% from the ~$18.65 billion peak in 2017.
At the same time, China's imports from Iran are down to $3.04 billion, leaving China's trade surplus at $3.89 billion, the lowest since 2022.
Furthermore, despite absorbing ~33% of Iranian trade, Iran represents less than 1% of China's total commerce.
Furthermore, Iranian crude makes up ~13% of China's seaborne oil intake, even though China purchases ~90% of total Iranian oil exports.
Meanwhile, in 2021, C