China Holds More Oil Than US, Japan and Europe Combined While Hormuz Stays Shut

China’s growing strategic oil reserves are drawing attention as supply risks build around the Strait of Hormuz. While Western countries have started tapping emergency stockpiles to manage disruptions, China has moved in the opposite direction, continuing to add to its inventories. The difference in approach is now visible in the numbers. This could shape how countries handle prolonged supply stress in the months ahead.

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China Stockpiled 1.4 Billion Barrels as West Runs Down Reserves During Supply Crisis

China held an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of crude in its strategic oil reserves as of December 2025, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The estimate includes both government-controlled and commercial inventories. This shows Beijing’s policy of using state firms to build additional buffers.

In comparison, the US had about 413 million barrels in its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Japan held 263 million barrels, and OECD Europe had roughly 179 million barrels. Combined, that comes to around 855 million barrels, well below China’s total.

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Emergency Oil Releases Follow Hormuz Supply Disruption

The supply situation shifted after the effective closure of the Hormuz route earlier this year. In response, members of the International Energy Agency agreed to release emergency stocks to stabilize supply. Amidst this, Chinese President Xi Jinping said,

“The Strait of Hormuz should maintain normal passage, as this serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community.”

This has reduced available reserves across Western markets. Meanwhile, China has continued to increase imports. Supply averaged about 16.4 million barrels per day in early 2026. It should be noted that some of it is directed into storage.

The difference reveals how countries are approaching energy security. Western nations are using reserves to manage near-term shortages, while China continues to hold larger crude inventories. This leaves it in a better position to manage supply disruptions if constraints on key routes persist.

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