As energy stress spreads across Southeast Asia, governments across the region are asking China to deliver on its pledges of closer energy security cooperation by freeing up now-banned exports of fertiliser and fuel. Also Read War threatens global food bowl, slows fertiliser supplies amid economic disruptionChina is the world's second largest fertiliser exporter and also a large supplier of fuel. Dhaka earlier this month asked China to honour existing fuel contracts, while Thai diplomats will engage Chinese counterparts to keep fertiliser shipments from China flowing if needed, officials in Bangkok said. On March 17, the Philippines minister of agriculture visited China's embassy in Manila and said China had agreed to continue fertiliser shipments. The same day Australia, which imported a third of its jet fuel from China last year, said it was discussing jet fuel exports with Beijing.

Source: The Telegraph March 30, 2026 14:38 UTC