Yuan makes oil and gas trade inroads
But the dollar still remains overwhelmingly the favoured currency
China’s status as the world’s biggest buyer of oil and gas has helped the country’s efforts to settle more purchases in its local currency gain some traction this year. But the potential rise of the yuan in international energy trading is unlikely to dislodge the US dollar from its dominant position in the global system any time soon. Recent economic and geopolitical developments have increased the potential attractiveness of trading oil and gas in non-dollar currencies—particularly the yuan, which is officially known as the Renminbi. After seeing how Western institutions froze Russian financial assets in spring 2022, Beijing is keener than ever to pursue its ‘de-dollarisation’ ambitions. Ch
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices






