Capitals, March 16 (SANA) – China’s growing demand for energy is increasingly influencing global oil and gas supply routes, as Beijing moves to diversify imports and reduce reliance on vulnerable maritime chokepoints amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Security concerns in the Middle East—particularly risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy flows—have pushed China to strengthen energy partnerships with Russia and Central Asian countries while expanding land-based supply networks.
China is the world’s largest oil importer, consuming roughly 14–16 million barrels per day, while domestic production covers less than 30% of its needs. As a result, more than 70% of its oil demand relies on imports, making energy security a central strategic priority for Beijing.
In recent years, Russia has become China’s largest oil supplier, aided by discounted crude offered after Western sanctions on Moscow. The two countries have also expanded cooperation through major infrastructure projects such as the Power of Siberia pipeline, which delivers Russian natural gas directly to China through overland routes that avoid maritime risks.
Central Asia has also emerged as a key alternative energy corridor. Turkmenistan, for example, supplies large volumes of natural gas to China through pipelines crossing Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan into China’s Xinjiang region. These projects form part of China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at strengthening trade and energy links across Eurasia.
To guard against supply disruptions, China has built substantial strategic reserves. Analysts estimate the country holds between 1.1 and 1.4 billion barrels of crude, with total storage capacity approaching 2 billion barrels, potentially covering several months of imports if supplies from the Middle East are disrupted.
Recent customs data show that China’s crude imports rose by 16% year-on-year in January and February, reaching roughly 12 million barrels per day, reflecting efforts to bolster strategic reserves amid market uncertainty.
Despite diversification efforts, the Middle East remains China’s primary energy source, supplying about half of its crude imports, with a significant portion transported through the Strait of Hormuz. China also remains the largest buyer of Iranian oil.
Analysts say any major disruption to Gulf energy exports could accelerate China’s shift toward Russian and Central Asian supplies, potentially reshaping global energy trade flows and strengthening Eurasian pipeline networks as alternatives to traditional maritime routes.
Kh.A
