This is, of course, assuming that any Chinese stats or derived stats related to China can ever be considered trustworthy.
Also I don't get the numbers. China, a nation with about 12.5% of global pop, has as much oil as everywhere else in the world that isn't an oil producing nation? Dafuq? And if the impact to total supply is basically nil, then they had to be getting oil from somewhere.
The maths aren't mathing for China in that graphic for me...
"This is, of course, assuming that any Chinese stats or derived stats related to China can ever be considered trustworthy."
Thank you for your well informed observation.
Where were all these alleged stockpiles of oil when Trump cut off most if not all the Iranian oil in March, and China experienced gas lines which resembled our own in the 1973 and 1977-1979 oil shocks?
Yeah... I'm calling shenanigans. They stockpiled in advance, but their usage stats aren't being shown properly. Everywhere else falls but they stay stable/flat for the entirety of the crisis, despite having been cut off from supplies? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Even with the strategic building of a stockpile (which only explains how they have as much oils as basically the rest of the world), in order to have the number stay flat they have to be getting a consistent supply of oil from somewhere. For months that should not be the case as they had no Iranian oil and no Venezuelan oil. So where the fuck did they get a fuel source to stay topped up?
I get they've been stockpiling for 2-3 years as per u/catsfive, but a stockpile goes down when used, and China's hasn't fallen anywhere near the rest of the planet. Again, it makes no sense at all. Couple that with the vid above on the x link? Yeah... that graphic is lying big time.
Yes, China substantially bulked up its oil stockpiles (inventories/reserves held in storage) in the past 2–3 years, with particularly large increases in 2024 and especially 2025.
Key Data on Stockpile Builds
In 2025, China added an average of ~1.1 million barrels per day (mb/d) to its combined strategic and commercial crude oil inventories — equivalent to roughly 400 million barrels (or ~54 million tonnes) for the year. (U.S. EIA)
There was a similar large increase in 2024.
By the end of 2025, total inventories reached nearly 1.4 billion barrels (commercial stocks ~1 billion barrels + government-held/strategic ~360 million barrels). (U.S. EIA)
Earlier (2016–early 2024), observed above-ground stocks typically ranged between ~850 million and just over 1 billion barrels. The recent builds pushed totals significantly higher (estimates of 1.1–1.4 billion barrels by late 2025/early 2026).
These figures come primarily from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis, which uses a combination of Chinese official data (imports, refining, etc.), third-party trackers (Vortexa, Kayrros, Kpler), and other sources. China does not publicly disclose detailed inventory numbers, so estimates involve some uncertainty, but multiple independent analyses align on the scale of the buildup.
Context and Drivers
The Chinese government directed state-owned oil companies (NOCs) to add to reserves, with specific targets such as adding tens of millions of barrels in 2024–early 2025 periods. This occurred amid efforts to enhance energy security, given China’s heavy reliance on imports (over 70% of the crude it refines).
Additional factors included taking advantage of relatively lower prices at times and precautionary stockpiling for potential supply disruptions (geopolitical tensions, sanctions, or conflicts). China also expanded storage capacity significantly (tank farm capacity exceeded 1.8 billion barrels by mid-2024, with more coming online).
Proven Reserves (in the Ground) vs. Stockpiles
Stockpiles/inventories (what the question and related discussions usually refer to): Yes, major buildup as detailed above.
Proven reserves (undiscovered or undeveloped resources in the ground): These have seen more modest growth through exploration and development programs. Domestic production rose from around 3.8 mb/d in 2020 to ~4.3 mb/d in 2025, supported by new discoveries (especially shale/tight oil), but this is not a dramatic recent surge in the total proven reserve base compared to the stockpiling activity.
By end-2025/early 2026, China held the world’s largest strategic oil inventories by some estimates (larger than the combined U.S. SPR + commercial stocks or other major holders).
This buildup helped absorb excess global supply at times and positioned China with a significant buffer (equivalent to ~3+ months of imports in total stocks). Builds continued into early 2026 before later developments.
In short, the answer is clearly yes for stockpiles — the scale of additions (hundreds of millions of barrels in just two years) qualifies as substantial by any measure.
Looks like China got their hands on a copy of the script.
Or they were prepping for Taiwan
Or both.
This is, of course, assuming that any Chinese stats or derived stats related to China can ever be considered trustworthy.
Also I don't get the numbers. China, a nation with about 12.5% of global pop, has as much oil as everywhere else in the world that isn't an oil producing nation? Dafuq? And if the impact to total supply is basically nil, then they had to be getting oil from somewhere.
The maths aren't mathing for China in that graphic for me...
"This is, of course, assuming that any Chinese stats or derived stats related to China can ever be considered trustworthy."
Thank you for your well informed observation.
Where were all these alleged stockpiles of oil when Trump cut off most if not all the Iranian oil in March, and China experienced gas lines which resembled our own in the 1973 and 1977-1979 oil shocks?
https://x.com/EnergyAbsurdity/status/2031509234249072966
Yeah... I'm calling shenanigans. They stockpiled in advance, but their usage stats aren't being shown properly. Everywhere else falls but they stay stable/flat for the entirety of the crisis, despite having been cut off from supplies? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Even with the strategic building of a stockpile (which only explains how they have as much oils as basically the rest of the world), in order to have the number stay flat they have to be getting a consistent supply of oil from somewhere. For months that should not be the case as they had no Iranian oil and no Venezuelan oil. So where the fuck did they get a fuel source to stay topped up?
I get they've been stockpiling for 2-3 years as per u/catsfive, but a stockpile goes down when used, and China's hasn't fallen anywhere near the rest of the planet. Again, it makes no sense at all. Couple that with the vid above on the x link? Yeah... that graphic is lying big time.
Yes, China substantially bulked up its oil stockpiles (inventories/reserves held in storage) in the past 2–3 years, with particularly large increases in 2024 and especially 2025.
Key Data on Stockpile Builds
These figures come primarily from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis, which uses a combination of Chinese official data (imports, refining, etc.), third-party trackers (Vortexa, Kayrros, Kpler), and other sources. China does not publicly disclose detailed inventory numbers, so estimates involve some uncertainty, but multiple independent analyses align on the scale of the buildup.
Context and Drivers
The Chinese government directed state-owned oil companies (NOCs) to add to reserves, with specific targets such as adding tens of millions of barrels in 2024–early 2025 periods. This occurred amid efforts to enhance energy security, given China’s heavy reliance on imports (over 70% of the crude it refines).
Additional factors included taking advantage of relatively lower prices at times and precautionary stockpiling for potential supply disruptions (geopolitical tensions, sanctions, or conflicts). China also expanded storage capacity significantly (tank farm capacity exceeded 1.8 billion barrels by mid-2024, with more coming online).
Proven Reserves (in the Ground) vs. Stockpiles
By end-2025/early 2026, China held the world’s largest strategic oil inventories by some estimates (larger than the combined U.S. SPR + commercial stocks or other major holders).
This buildup helped absorb excess global supply at times and positioned China with a significant buffer (equivalent to ~3+ months of imports in total stocks). Builds continued into early 2026 before later developments.
In short, the answer is clearly yes for stockpiles — the scale of additions (hundreds of millions of barrels in just two years) qualifies as substantial by any measure.
Sources:
https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/2065776423202132005
Almost like they were preparing for it.
Stocking up for 2027.
You know why?
They forced everyone to go electric at the threat of death or financial ruin.