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China looks better placed than most in this oil shock. Here’s why in Oil & Companies News 09/04/2026 China appears better placed than most major economies to withstand the ongoing oil shock triggered by Middle East tensions, with structural advantages in its energy mix, supply diversification and strategic reserves helping cushion the impact, according to Goldman Sachs. Unlike many global peers that remain heavily reliant on crude imports, China’s dependence on oil and gas is relatively lower, accounting for about 28% of its primary energy consumption. In contrast, alternative and renewable sources, including nuclear, wind, solar and hydro, now contribute roughly 40% of the country’s electricity generation, marking a significant increase over the past decade. This shift towards a more diversified energy mix has reduced China’s vulnerability to sharp swings in global oil prices. At the same time, the country has built substantial oil stockpiles, with combined strategic and commercial reserves estimated at around 1.2 billion barrels, enough to cover more than 100 days of consumption in the event of a supply disruption. China has also broadened its import base, securing energy supplies from countries outside the Middle East, including Russia, Australia and Malaysia. This diversification reduces its exposure to geopolitical risks in key transit routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have intensified amid the ongoing conflict. As a result, Goldman Sachs estimates the drag on China’s economic growth from the oil shock to be relatively modest, trimming its 2026 GDP growth forecast by about 20 basis points. This compares with larger downward revisions of around 40 basis points for the United States and as much as 70 basis points for other emerging Asian economies excluding China. However, the bank cautioned that while the direct impact of higher energy prices may be manageable, secondary effects, including global stagflation risks, a stronger U.S. dollar and tighter financial conditions, could still weigh on Chinese equities through earnings and valuation pressures. Overall, China’s structural energy advantages and policy focus on diversification are seen as key buffers, positioning the economy to navigate the current oil shock with greater resilience than most global peers. Source: Investing.com 2026-04-09 hellenicshippingnews... window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en-US'}; (function(w, d, s) { function go(){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], load = function(url, id) { if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.src = url; js.id = id; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }; load('//connect.facebook.net/en/all.js#xfbml=1', 'fbjssdk'); load('https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js', 'gplus1js'); load('//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js', 'tweetjs'); } if (w.addEventListener) { w.addEventListener("load", go, false); } else if (w.attachEvent) { w.attachEvent("onload",go); } }(window, document, 'script')); tweet Share
China looks better placed than most in this oil shock. Here’s why
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