China's 1.3 Billion Barrel Oil Stockpile to Cushion Sanctions Impact on Market

China has built massive crude reserves—up to 1.3 billion barrels—expected to soften the blow from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil producers like Rosneft and Lukoil. Analysts say this inventory buffer will dampen oil price volatility and reduce the immediate market reaction to supply disruptions, stabilizing Brent and WTI in the near term.