A buildout in new petrochemical capacity in China is fueling fears that the country could tip the global market into oversupply, hurting smaller petrochemical producers. Bloomberg reported today that China’s polyethylene production could add 18% this year, based on forecasts by a local consultancy. The output growth will significantly exceed …
Read More »China’s Teapots Fire up again as Beijing Opens the 2026 Oil Spigot
China’s independent refiners—the country’s infamous “teapots”— just got their first sip of 2026 crude import quotas. And the timing couldn’t be better for a physical market drowning in unsold sanctioned barrels. Trade sources say Beijing has handed out roughly 8 million tons so far across 21 refiners, a noticeable bump …
Read More »China Braces for a Winter that could Break its Power Grid
China is heading into winter expecting record power use again, and officials are already warning that both electricity load and daily gas demand are likely to set new highs. The NDRC says the heating season will run longer this year. That usually means heavier coal burn and more gas in …
Read More »China’s Solar Additions Rebound as Policy Shift Uncertainty Fades
China’s solar power installations jumped by 30% in October from September, as capacity additions rebounded from the summer months, which had seen a new renewables pricing mechanism alarming investors. Chinese developers installed 12.6 gigawatts (GW) of solar power in October, up by 30% from September, according to data by the …
Read More »China’s Oil Imports Surge as Middle East Flows Hit New Highs
China’s crude oil imports last month remained elevated, with purchases from some countries hitting all-time highs, according to customs data cited by Reuters. Imports from the UAE, for instance, rose from 2.05 tons a year ago to 3.82 million tons last month, while purchases from Kuwait went up from 970,000 …
Read More »China’s Oil Stockpiling Accelerated in October
China stockpiled crude oil at elevated rates in October, at a daily rate of some 690,000 barrels, up from 570,000 barrels daily in September, Reuters’ Clyde Russell reported today, citing calculations derived from official Beijing data. Refinery throughput in October averaged 14.94 million barrels daily, the official data showed, while …
Read More »China and India Boost Crude Purchases as Global Glut Looms
China and India are buying more crude oil, providing some respite for producers facing expectations of oversupply, Bloomberg reported today, citing unnamed trading sources. The two large importers have been buying mostly Middle Eastern cargos, the Bloomberg sources said, noting that these were being sold at a discount, with China …
Read More »Unusual Weather Drives China’s Biggest Power Spike in Two Years
Power generation in China jumped by the most in October in nearly two years and overall electricity output was at its highest for any October since at least 1998, as a heat wave hit southern China while temperatures were colder-than-usual in the north. China’s power generation surged by 7.9% in …
Read More »China Looks to Expand Renewable Energy Use beyond Electricity
China will aim to use more renewable energy such as green hydrogen and green ammonia to avoid curtailments of solar and wind power whose soaring capacity sometimes boosts clean power generation beyond the limits of the grids. China will promote and support the use of renewable energy beyond the electricity …
Read More »China Opens State Energy Projects to Private Investment
China is encouraging private investment in state-led major energy and infrastructure projects and could allow private investors to have more than 10% in certain projects, the government said in a landmark directive aimed at boosting investment and reinvigorating the economy. The projects open to minority private shareholding will need state …
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