China Dominates Global Commodity Stocks with Unprecedented Strategic Stockpiling

Recent reports from JPMorgan and leading energy analysts highlight China's aggressive expansion of its strategic commodity reserves to record levels. China currently controls approximately 70% of global crude oil inventories and a staggering 80% of the world's copper stocks, reflecting a deep strategic shift. In 2025 alone, Beijing increased its crude oil holdings by 400 million barrels, maintaining a consistent accumulation rate of 1.1 million barrels per day. This stockpiling effort extends significantly into agriculture, with China now holding 70% of global corn, 51% of wheat, and 46% of soybean inventories. Analysts suggest these moves are designed to capitalize on favorable pricing while building emergency buffers against potential geopolitical conflicts involving the United States. This massive accumulation effectively removes substantial supply from the market, creating a structural floor for global commodity prices.