China’s Industrial Economy Improves While Consumers Remain Wary

China’s industrial output increased in April for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak, adding to early signs of a recovery that economists cautioned would be slow and challenging. Industrial output rose 3.9% from a year earlier, reversing a drop of 1.1% in March, data showed Friday. Fixed-asset investment decreased 10.3% in the first four …

Saudi Loss of China Oil Market Share Likely Brief, Say Analysts

Saudi Arabia’s loss of oil market share in China last month to Russia and Iraq is likely to be fleeting, with analysts saying shipments from the kingdom to Asia’s largest economy are rebounding in May. Saudi crude exports to China could more than double to 10 million tons this month from April, according to ship-tracking …

Recovery Quickens as PBOC Vows Support

Recovery Quickens as PBOC Vows Support Chinese industrial commodities began the week on the front foot after the central bank pledged more powerful policies to combat the coronavirus’s hammer blow to growth. The evidence of the past few days, from shrinking crude and metals stockpiles, to the rebound in car sales and usage, suggest that …

Oil Tankers Drag Out Sailing Times as Surplus Snarls Ports

Oil Tankers Drag Out Sailing Times as Surplus Snarls Ports When the supertanker New Vigorous arrived at the port of Antifer in northern France last Saturday, it made a small bit of maritime history. The vessel, laden with 2 million barrels of crude, became the first in almost two years to make the voyage from …