China Holds Lending Rates Steady Amid Global Oil Price Surge and Middle East Tensions

China is widely expected to keep its benchmark lending rates unchanged for the tenth straight month in March, according to a Reuters poll, as soaring global oil prices fueled by escalating Middle East conflict introduce fresh uncertainty into the inflation landscape.

Beijing's 2026 economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% — marginally lower than last year's 5% expansion — combined with stronger-than-expected economic data in early 2026, has lessened the urgency for immediate monetary stimulus, analysts say. All 20 participants in a Reuters survey anticipate the one-year and five-year Loan Prime Rates (LPR) to hold at 3.00% and 3.50%, respectively. The LPR is determined monthly when 20 designated commercial banks submit proposed rates to the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

Global oil prices have surged approximately 50% since the outbreak of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran, sending shockwaves through international financial markets. While Standard Chartered analysts note that a moderate, temporary oil price increase may have limited impact on China's economy, they caution that a deeper escalation — particularly one that restricts key commodity supplies — could disrupt global supply chains and dampen Chinese exports and growth. This risk has led them to push back their forecast for a reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cut to the second quarter and delay an anticipated policy rate reduction to the third quarter.

Not all analysts share the same concern. MUFG China's chief financial market analyst Marco Sun argues that China's sufficient energy reserves provide a strong buffer against external energy shocks, and that the PBOC will continue pursuing an accommodative monetary policy to manage domestic financing pressures.

The rate-hold outlook also aligns with global trends, as the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada both maintained a hawkish stance this week, citing inflation risks driven by rising energy costs from the ongoing Iran conflict.