China stockpiled huge amounts of oil before Iran war
Summary
China built up a large stockpile of oil last year, much more than other countries, to prepare for potential supply problems. This stockpile now gives China an advantage as the Iran war disrupts oil supplies near the Strait of Hormuz.Key Facts
- China added around 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day to its reserves in 2025.
- By December 2025, China’s strategic oil stocks reached nearly 1.4 billion barrels.
- The increase happened due to lower oil prices, higher geopolitical risks, and a new Chinese law requiring larger reserves.
- China did not join the International Energy Agency’s recent large release of oil reserves.
- The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve held about 409 million barrels as of March 2026, well below its 714 million barrel capacity.
- China also controls over 70% of the global supply chains for solar, wind, battery, and electric vehicles.
- The Iran war has caused an oil shock by disrupting supply near the Strait of Hormuz.
- China’s energy strategy was designed to handle crises like the current conflict.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.