--- description: China is now the world’s largest importer of crude oil, surpassing the U.S. with the long-term outlook pointing towards a permanent shift title: China Becomes World's Top Oil Importer image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt67abc5e76b6a8944/6987ef2ae53aba54084dbc2e/beijing-traffic-china.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # China Has Become the World's Biggest Crude Oil Importer for the First Time by [Kevin McSpadden](/author/kevin-mcspadden/) ## Kevin McSpadden Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 11, 2015 9:27 AM CUT  Masses of vehicles move slowly during a traffic jam near the entrance to Lianhuo (Lianyungang-Khorgos) Expressway during the Labor Day holiday in Zhengzhou city, central China's Henan province, 1 May 2015. Masses of vehicles move slowly during a traffic jam near the entrance to Lianhuo (Lianyungang-Khorgos) Expressway during the Labor Day holiday in Zhengzhou city, central China's Henan province, 1 May 2015.Feng lei—Imaginechina/AP by [Kevin McSpadden](/author/kevin-mcspadden/) ## Kevin McSpadden Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 11, 2015 9:27 AM CUT China is now the largest importer of crude oil in the world. In April, it [surpassed](http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/342b3a2e-f5a7-11e4-bc6d-00144feab7de.html#axzz3ZoiSyMiu "undefined") the U.S., which has traditionally held the slot, with imports of 7.4 million barrels per day (bpd) or 200,000 more than the U.S., according to the _Financial Times_. The news comes as a surprise because the Chinese economy has been slowing and just this weekend, in an effort to stimulate growth, the People’s Bank of China cut interest rates for the third time in 6 months. Over the next few months, the U.S. and China may be in and out of the top spot, but because American imports dropped by about 3 million bpd in the last decade (thanks in large part to shale extractions) and because China’s purchases have boosted seven-fold, the Chinese should be the top crude oil importer on a long term basis. China [overtook](http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/03/china-overtakes-us-energy-consumer "undefined") the United States as the world’s top energy consumer in 2010 and is already the number one purchaser of many commodities, such as coal, iron ore and most metals. ### See the World's Largest Solar Plants From Above  Desert Sunlight Solar Farm produces 550 megawatts of energy, equal to the output of a conventional power plant, near Palm Springs, Calif., where 8 million photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity. Jamey Stillings for TIME  Desert Sunlight Solar Farm where 8 million solar panels power 160,000 California homes, in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings for TIME  The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, a 110-megawatt solar thermal power project, near Tonopah, Nev. Jamey Stillings  The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, near Tonopah, Nev. Jamey Stillings  The Crescent Dunes Solar Plant, near Tonopah, Nev. Jamey Stillings  The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, near Tonopah, Nev. Jamey Stillings  Mirrored heliostats dot the landscape at the Ivanpah solar plant in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings  Construction of Ivanpah Solar Field One in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings  Heliostat installation at the Ivanpah thermal solar plant in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings  Mirrored heliostats at the Ivanpah solar plant in the Mojave Desert in California. Jamey Stillings  Mirrored heliostats that reflect and concentrate desert sunshine surround a tower at the Ivanpah solar power station in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings  350, 000 mirrored heliostats reflect light onto boilers generating 392 megawatts of energy at the Ivanpah solar power station in the Mojave Desert, California. Jamey Stillings  The Ivanpah solar power station in the Mojave Desert, California. 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