China’s crude oil imports from Russia dip in August – is it a one-off blip?

China’s imports of crude oil from Russia fell in August, but official data shows the change was offset by higher purchases from elsewhere, even as China’s purchases from the US remained suspended for a third straight month.
By volume, China imported 15.2 per cent less crude oil from its northern neighbour last month, year on year, totalling 7.94 million tonnes. And analysts were mixed on whether the decline might be a temporary fluctuation or a sign of a broader trend.
The latest customs data…