Today's most shocking news: China has requested to stop exporting fuel abroad!
According to reports from Bloomberg, in the context of intense fighting in the Persian Gulf and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, it is said that China is planning to stop exporting fuel and petroleum products, not sign new contracts, and even discuss how to cancel previously signed orders.
It seems the impact of the Strait of Hormuz is expanding. This is the "throat" of global oil transportation, with about one-third of the world's maritime oil passing through here. Once this area is blocked, it means that crude oil from the Middle East cannot be exported. Although Chinese refineries have strong processing capabilities, a large portion of their raw materials rely on imports, especially crude oil from the Middle East.
If the tap at the top is turned off, or if shipping fleets dare not go to sea due to war risks, the "food supply" for domestic refineries becomes a big problem. At this time, ensuring domestic supply is definitely the first priority for survival. It's like when your rice jar is almost empty and the outside is in chaos—you would definitely stabilize your own bowl first and would never lend the remaining rice to neighbors to cook porridge.
China is not only a major importer of oil but also a major exporter. In January-October 2025, China's export volume of refined oil was 30.02 million tons. Although the amount of crude oil exports is not in the same league, China plays a significant role in the global export of refined oil. The reason is that China has strong refining capabilities, meaning high technological added value.
China plays the role of an "oil refinery." It imports a large amount of crude oil, processes it into refined oil, and then exports it to meet the market demand in the Asia-Pacific region (such as Singapore, the Philippines, etc.). Now, China prioritizes its domestic market, which is natural and expected.
Dao Ge believes that in the future, Japan's friends will probably be the most worried. They rely almost 100% on imported energy, and if the supply is cut off, the scene is too beautiful to imagine. It is said that there are many oil resources under Tokyo Bay. Although in the past, due to high extraction costs and environmental issues, no one has touched them. Now, at this critical moment, should those black golds buried under Tokyo Bay be dug up to cope with the emergency? Even if the cost is as high as printing money, it is better than letting the entire country's trucks stop and planes not fly.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858878205408256/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.