China, U.S., Japan Dominate Global Strategic Oil Inventories in 2025

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Global strategic oil inventories remained heavily concentrated in China, the United States, and Japan in 2025, underscoring their critical role in global energy security.

The United States continues to rely on its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which has a total capacity of 714 million barrels. As of December 2025, the reserve held 413 million barrels, rising above 415 million barrels in March 2026 before easing to around 409 million barrels by April 10. These reserves are separate from over 400 million barrels of commercial crude inventories.

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China remains the largest holder, with estimated strategic inventories nearing 1.4 billion barrels by the end of 2025. The country added approximately 1.1 million barrels per day during the year and has continued stockpiling into 2026. Its reserves include both government and commercial inventories, reflecting policies directing national oil companies to maintain emergency supplies.

Japan ranks third globally, holding 263 million barrels in government reserves, alongside mandatory industry stockpiles under its Oil Stockpiling Act. Meanwhile, OECD Europe and South Korea held approximately 179 million and 79 million barrels respectively, reinforcing broader regional preparedness against supply disruptions.