With geopolitical flashpoints and ongoing conflicts sweeping through international energy markets, you’d expect petrol prices at your local servo to skyrocket. Yet, against all odds, global crude prices are being kept from blowing out—and it all comes down to a surprising superpower quietly crushing global oil demand!

So, who is pulling the levers behind the scenes, and what does it mean for your next trip to the bowser?

Brent is joined by Macquarie University finance expert Lurion De Mello to unpack the global oil paradox. We dive into how China’s massive shift toward electric vehicles is reshaping energy demand, why softening consumption is acting as a crucial shock absorber for crude prices, and what everyday Australian motorists can expect at the pump amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.