The bulk of the U.S. crude going to Asia is light and sweet, and therefore competes with grades like Nigeria’s Bonny Light and Angola’s Girassol. China is slowly increasing imports of US crude oil after reducing intake following the trade dispute between the two countries , but volume is well below pre - trade war levels . Three ships holding 3.94 million barrels are set to arrive in February , according to Refinitiv ’s ship - loading data , after no cargoes were shipped this September , October and November , and just one arrived in December . Earlier in 2018 , prior to the trade war , the Asian nation was importing around 328,000 bpd , but according to an opinion piece by Clyde Smith in Reuters , US crude is uncompetitive to Asia due to shipping congestion .
China is slowly increasing imports of US crude oil after reducing intake following the trade dispute between the two countries , but volume is well below pre - trade war levels . Three ships holding 3.94 million barrels are set to arrive in February , according to Refinitiv ’s ship - loading data , after no cargoes were shipped this September , October and November , and just one arrived in December . Earlier in 2018 , prior to the trade war , the Asian nation was importing around 328,000 bpd , but according to an opinion piece by Clyde Smith in Reuters , US crude is uncompetitive to Asia due to shipping congestion .