Sanctions crushed Iran's oil exports, China powered the comeback

After U.S. sanctions helped drive exports to a 2020 low, Iranian crude and condensate shipments rebounded to 1.58 million barrels a day by 2025. Almost all of it was headed in one direction.

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Figures show estimated crude oil and condensate exports in barrels per day.

Chart: David AverreSource: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2026 Report on Iranian Petroleum and Petroleum Products Exports; Vortexa Analytics