China has reduced its crude oil imports in recent periods, easing supply pressures across Asian markets that had been strained by disruptions from Gulf oil producers, according to commodity tracking firm Kpler.

The world's largest oil importer "took its foot off the gas on buying oil," Kpler analysts said, providing relief to other buyers in the region who had faced increased competition for available supplies.

Separately, China's steel sector continues to show signs of structural change, with production remaining weak despite strong imports of iron ore, a key steelmaking ingredient. This pattern suggests potential shifts in China's industrial activity and manufacturing priorities.

The developments come as global commodity markets face ongoing volatility from geopolitical tensions affecting energy supplies from the Middle East. China's reduced oil purchasing has helped alleviate some of the supply constraints that had pressured Asian refiners and other major importers.

China's commodity import patterns are closely watched by global markets given the country's outsized influence on pricing and supply chains for energy and raw materials worldwide.