The oil shock raises a hard question: can China turn its vast coal reserves into a lifeline for countries facing disrupted fuel supplies? Its expanding coal-to-oil industry offers one possible answer- but not a quick fix. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its October 2026 report that global oil inventories were 509 million barrels below their end-February level. It …

China’s export engine gathered speed in September, as shipments abroad jumped 36.3% from a year earlier, marking their strongest growth since February. The surge in China’s export growth in September beat market expectations and accelerated from 25.0% in August, according to Chinese customs data reported by Reuters. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had expected a 25.5% rise. Imports also grew faster, …