Sanctioned Chinese refiner secures 2 million barrels of West African crude in aggressive bid to exit U.S. blacklist

• China's Hengli Petrochemical bought at least 2 million barrels of West African crude as it improves chances of being removed from a U.S. blacklist.
• The company is exploring additional crude purchases from West Africa and non-Iranian Middle Eastern suppliers starting June.
• Hengli was sanctioned by the U.S. in April for allegedly buying Iranian oil, part of broader efforts to curb Iran's energy revenues.
• African crude producers are becoming more important to Asian refiners, and Nigeria's Dangote Refinery is now exporting refined products internationally.

The company, which operates a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian, has recently inquired about additional cargoes from West Africa and non-Iranian Middle Eastern producers for delivery from June onward, according to multiple trade sources cited by Reuters.

The move comes months after the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Hengli in April for allegedly purchasing Iranian crude oil as part of Washington's broader campaign to curb Tehran's oil revenues.

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The sanctions form part of a long-running U.S. effort that intensified after the reimposition of restrictions on Iran's energy sector, targeting companies and intermediaries accused of facilitating Iranian crude exports.

Hengli has denied purchasing Iranian oil and said in April that it would pursue legal avenues to secure its removal from the sanctions list. The company also stated that it held sufficient crude inventories to maintain operations for at least three months.

Hengli was sanctioned by the U.S. in April for allegedly buying Iranian oil, part of broader efforts to curb Iran's energy revenues MarketWatch photo illustration/Getty Images, iStockphoto

Africa's growing importance in global energy markets

Hengli's turn to West African crude highlights the continent's rising role in global energy supply chains.

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Producers such as Nigeria, Angola, Libya, Ghana, and the Republic of the Congo have become increasingly important suppliers to Asian refiners seeking diversified sources of crude.

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At the same time, Africa is strengthening its position in refined petroleum products. Nigeria's Dangote Refinery, Africa's largest refinery, has begun exporting refined products to international markets, signaling a shift from the continent's traditional role as a raw crude exporter toward greater participation in higher-value energy trade.

The latest purchase also highlights how geopolitical tensions are reshaping global oil flows.

While sanctions have complicated access to Iranian, Russian, and other restricted crude supplies, African producers are increasingly benefiting from efforts by refiners to secure compliant alternatives.

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For West African exporters, rising demand from Asia presents an opportunity to deepen trade ties with the world's largest crude-importing region while reinforcing the continent's growing influence in both crude and refined energy markets.