Back 22 Jun 2026

While the world scrambles for oil, China sits on full tanks

[BEIJING] While the United States and Iran haggle over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring oil exports from the Persian Gulf, China, the world’s largest oil importer, is not expected to quickly ramp up purchases from the region.

If normal traffic through the strait fully resumes in the coming weeks, numerous tankers carrying oil bound for China that have been stranded in the Persian Gulf during the war would be on the move again. Their eventual arrival at Chinese ports is likely to produce a temporary surge in deliveries.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/while-world-scrambles-oil-china-sits-full-tanks