Increase in commuter traffic after pandemic restrictions lifted
Letter from China: Rebounding demand meets economic headwinds
Opec+ and the IEA have both revised up 2023 forecasts for Chinese oil demand in recent weeks
The swift recovery in China’s urban commuter traffic and supply-chain logistics after Beijing abandoned pandemic restrictions two months ago has raised hopes of a strong economic rebound. But the real impact is unlikely to be seen for some time yet. China’s dramatic reopening has been rapid but bumpy, with infections still sweeping the nation. But this year’s week-long Lunar New Year public holiday—which began on 23 January—is unique in that vast swathes of the population are no longer under Covid travel restrictions or lockdowns for the first time since the pandemic began. This relative freedom—combined with major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, emerging from peak infections
Also in this section
29 January 2026
Caught between LNG risks from across the Atlantic and the wounds from Russian gas dependence, Europe needs more than a simple diversification strategy
28 January 2026
The alliance looks to bolster market management credibility by bringing greater clarity and unity to output cuts and producer capacity later in 2026
23 January 2026
A strategic pivot away from Russian crude in recent weeks tees up the possibility of improved US-India trade relations
23 January 2026
The signing of a deal with a TotalEnergies-led consortium to explore for gas in a block adjoining Israel’s maritime area may breathe new life into the country’s gas ambitions
