The Indicator from Planet Money · Friday, July 17, 2026
Nitrogen dioxide pollution in China dropped by 7% in the second quarter, coinciding with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This reduction suggests that decreased oil consumption, likely due to less use of gasoline-powered vehicles, is a more significant factor in China's lower-than-expected oil imports than secret oil reserves.
“Which is how much the pollutant nitrogen dioxide dropped in Chinese air in the second quarter of this year, roughly covering the time after the Strait of Hormuz closed.”
“But the sizable drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution strongly suggests that a bigger explanation is just the ordinary one, you know, that internal combustion engines are being used less.”
“So it looks like during the war in Iran, people in China have been riding in gas cars less and riding in electric cars and buses more.”