China is not expected to materially boost its crude oil imports through the end of the year as oil prices surged above $100 per barrel again and independent refiners struggle to procure cheaper supply amid the near-disappearance of Iranian barrels.
China is on track to import roughly the same volumes of crude oil in September as it did in August, extending the trend of recovering shipments. However, the September-arriving cargoes were bought at oil prices in the $80s before the latest re-escalation in early September sent and kept Brent above $100…