Global News Journal

Beyond the World news headlines

Trying to deconstruct Chinese oil policy




Previously unprofitable refining companies, obliged to sell at prices set by the state, will now be turning enough profit to fully meet transport fuel demand for the first time in weeks. Rationing and queues will be alleviated. Chinese refiners would then need to buy more crude, not less, from world crude markets.

The timing of the decision was a surprise. While other Asian countries had been easing subsidies, Beijing wasn’t expected to move until after the Olympics was safely out of the way, for fear higher prices might cause unrest.