TechFlow reports that on March 11, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced it would release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves onto the market. The IEA stated that the Middle East situation has posed “significant and rising risks” to the oil market. These stocks will be drawn from mandatory reserves held by IEA member countries. Under IEA rules, each member country must hold reserves equivalent to at least 90 days of its previous year’s net imports. Such reserves may consist of crude oil, refined products, or a combination of both.
According to the IEA’s latest data, strategic reserves in North America consist primarily of crude oil, whereas European and Asian member countries hold both crude oil and refined products. As of the end of 2025, total petroleum stocks held in public inventories of IEA member countries amounted to 1.25 billion barrels—approximately 30% of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s total petroleum stocks. This marks the sixth time since its founding in 1974 that the IEA has issued an emergency stock release directive. (Jinshi)
