Middle East war: China tightens energy security

लगानी न्यूज

२८ फाल्गुन २०८२, बिहीबार १८:२२March 12, 2026

. China is prioritizing its energy security and tightening exports of refined oil products at a time when the war in the Middle East is destabilizing global energy markets.

According to Bloomberg News, Beijing is limiting the export of refined oil products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.TAG_OPEN_div_47

China, the world’TAG_OPEN_div_45 s second-largest economy, is one of the world’s largest importers of crude oil. China’s giant refinery mainly supplies the domestic market but also exports refined oil products such as petrol, diesel and jet fuel overseas. Last year, China exported about 58 million tonnes of refined oil products, according to official customs figures.

But with rising war tensions in the Middle East, Chinese oil refiners are now cancelling some of the export cargoes they have already agreed upon.TAG_OPEN_div_43 Bloomberg News reported this by citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

According to the

report, the latest directive is considered to be stricter than the guidance given last week. At that time, it was advised to stop the supply temporarily, but it was not understood as a mandatory directive.

Asked about the issue at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun said he was not aware of the report.TAG_OPEN_div_39

The global energy market has become very volatile since the war between the US and Israel in Iran.TAG_OPEN_div_37 In the international market, the price of crude oil crossed $ 100 per barrel on Thursday. Tehran’s attacks on some Gulf states have raised concerns about disruption of energy supplies.

In view of this situation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that it would bring crude oil from strategic reserves to the market in large quantities.TAG_OPEN_div_35 However, China is not obliged to participate in such a joint decision as it is not a full member of the agency.

Meanwhile, concerns about disrupting energy supplies from the Middle East have not diminished.TAG_OPEN_div_33 The Strait of Hormuz, which supplies about a fifth of the world’s crude oil, is now on the verge of being effectively closed.

According to analysis firm Clapper, more than TAG_OPEN_div_31 half of China’s crude imports last year came from the Middle East. However, analysts say China is likely to face potential supply disruptions in the short term as it has been strategically building large oil reserves for years.

According to Clapper’s estimates, China has about 1.2 billion barrels worth of crude oil reserves.TAG_OPEN_div_29 This amount is considered sufficient for about 115 days based on imports from the sea route.

Beijing allowed some of its strategic oil reserves to be released in 2021 after rising inflation at the factory level.TAG_OPEN_div_27 That decision was announced by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

However, the agency has not yet announced a new move amid the turmoil in the current global energy market.TAG_OPEN_div_25 Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiaqun said this week that China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its energy security.