The restriction, imposed last week and expected to remain in place until at least the end of March, aims to prevent domestic shortages in China, the world’s largest oil importer, according to market sources.

The move curtails exports that were valued at about $22 billion last year.War disruptions amplify supply strainEven before the export curbs, Asian refiners were seeking alternative crude supplies as the conflict in the Middle East disrupted flows from the Gulf.

Several refineries in the region, a key supplier of fuel to Asia, have shut operations as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was halted.

The combined impact has intensified competition for available cargoes, leaving import-dependent economies exposed to supply shocks.

Australia, Bangladesh and the Philippines, which rely heavily on Chinese refined fuel exports, are expected to face immediate challenges in meeting demand.

China accounted for roughly one-third of Australia’s jet fuel imports last year and about half of supplies to Bangladesh and the Philippines in 2024.

China ranks as Asia’s fourth-largest exporter of refined, or “clean,” fuels after South Korea, India and Singapore, and plays a pivotal role as a swing supplier when regional demand fluctuates.

Analysts say the sudden halt in exports leaves limited room for other suppliers to compensate. “The remaining Asian exporters simply do not have the spare volumes to replicate China’s role as the region’s swing supplier,” Kpler analyst Zameer Yusof said.

Benchmark refining margins in Singapore, known as “cracks,” are expected to continue rising as markets adjust through higher-priced replacement cargoes or reduced demand.

Fuel prices across Asia have climbed sharply. Diesel derivatives rose to $150 per barrel on March 17, while jet fuel swaps reached $163 per barrel, up from about $92 before the war, according to LSEG data.

Gasoline traded at $139.80 per barrel on Monday, compared with $79.30 on February 27.The tightening market is already affecting downstream sectors. Vietnam has warned airlines to prepare for potential flight cuts from April due to fuel shortages linked to export restrictions.

China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that military action in the Middle East should cease and that Beijing is willing to work with other countries to ensure energy security.

Using a scoop fashioned from an empty shell, he slowly pours salty brine into a row of brown clay containers that hang above a small wood fire. The clay vessels, shaped like large spheres, gradually heat until their surfaces begin to crack.

Once that moment arrives, Apatay removes the pots from the flames and allows them to cool. When the clay shell becomes brittle, he gently turns each vessel upside down and breaks it open with his fingers. Inside lies a perfectly round white lump of salt—one of the rarest culinary products in the world.The salt is known locally as asin tibuok, a phrase that translates roughly to “whole” or “unbroken salt.”

But many people today know it by a more colorful nickname: “dinosaur egg salt.” Its unusual egg-like shape has captured the imagination of food lovers around the globe.For centuries, this unique salt was once a common sight across the island. Today, however, only a handful of artisans remain who still know how to produce it.

Apatay is among the last practitioners continuing the tradition, and he has become part of a small movement determined to keep the craft alive.

The origins of asin tibuok stretch back hundreds of years. Historical records indicate that the salt was already being produced on Bohol as early as the 17th century. One of the earliest descriptions comes from a Spanish missionary who wrote about the unusual salt-making methods practiced by local communities.

The missionary recorded how coastal residents filtered seawater through ashes made from burned coconut husks before baking the resulting brine inside spherical clay containers. The process created dense, rock-hard balls of salt with a smoky, mineral flavor unlike any other.

Yet researchers believe the practice predates Spanish colonization of the Philippines.Ethnoarchaeologist Andrea Yankowski, who has spent years studying traditional salt production on Bohol, says the craft likely existed long before written records began. She first encountered asin tibuok about two decades ago while conducting fieldwork on the island.

Over time, Yankowski noticed that the number of traditional salt makers known locally as manganisays—was steadily shrinking. By 2019 she realized that only a small number of artisans remained, prompting her to begin documenting their techniques and stories.According to Yankowski, salt production was once a vital part of the island’s economy. Many coastal communities participated in the craft, creating a network of families dedicated to producing the prized mineral.

“This salt was not just for local use,” she explains. “It was regularly exchanged with farmers in the interior parts of the island for rice and other crops. It also traveled beyond Bohol through trade with neighboring islands.”

In earlier generations, asin tibuok played an everyday role in local cuisine. Families would attach a string to the solid salt orb and dip it directly into dishes such as rice porridge to add seasoning.

Unlike ordinary table salt, which dissolves quickly, asin tibuok releases flavor slowly. Its smoky undertones come from the coconut husk ash used during the filtration process, giving it a distinctive taste prized by chefs today.

For communities along the Bohol coastline, salt-making also represented more than just a livelihood—it was a cultural identity passed down through families.At its peak, roughly a hundred households were believed to be involved in the craft.

Knowledge of the process was traditionally shared across generations, with children learning the techniques by observing their elders.But during the late 20th century, this centuries-old practice began to fade.

Several factors contributed to the decline of asin tibuok production. One of the biggest challenges was the labor-intensive nature of the process. Making a single batch of salt can take months of preparation and careful attention.

The first step involves collecting coconut husks, which must be burned slowly to produce ash. That ash is then layered into large filtration basins made of bamboo. Seawater is poured through the ash, producing a concentrated liquid known as tasik.

This mineral-rich liquid is later boiled repeatedly until it forms a dense brine. Finally, the brine is poured into clay pots and baked over a fire until the water evaporates, leaving behind a solid mass of salt.Each clay container must be broken open to retrieve the salt inside, meaning the vessel can only be used once.

This makes the process both time-consuming and costly.As younger generations pursued different careers and modern salt became widely available, fewer people were willing to continue the demanding craft.

For Romano Apatay, continuing the tradition is about honoring the heritage of his ancestors.He learned the salt-making techniques from older members of his community and has spent decades refining the method.

Today he is determined to keep the practice alive despite the challenges.“It is very important to protect this craft,” he says. “It represents the work and knowledge of our forefathers.”Producing the salt requires patience, skill and dedication qualities that Apatay believes should not be lost.But in recent years, an unexpected wave of interest has begun to breathe new life into the craft.

Surprisingly, the revival of asin tibuok has been fueled in part by the internet.Food enthusiasts on social media platforms began sharing videos and posts about the unusual “dinosaur egg” salt. The visually striking shape of the salt balls and the dramatic process of breaking open clay pots captured widespread attention.

One major boost came in 2021 when Filipino culinary personality Erwan Heussaff published a video documenting the traditional production process. The video reached millions of viewers online and introduced the rare salt to a global audience.Soon after, younger chefs and food creators began experimenting with the ingredient, showcasing it in modern dishes and restaurant kitchens.The salt also appeared in popular culture.

In 2023, it was featured in an episode of the Filipino television drama Replacing Chef Chico on Netflix, further increasing its visibility.As curiosity grew, food lovers and tourists started visiting Bohol to see the traditional craft in person.

The renewed attention reached an important milestone in December 2025 when asin tibuok was officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

This designation highlights cultural traditions that are at risk of disappearing and encourages efforts to protect them.For the salt makers of Bohol, the recognition brought both pride and hope. It also helped draw global awareness to the fragile status of the craft.

Researchers and cultural advocates believe the recognition could support educational programs and training initiatives aimed at encouraging younger artisans to learn the tradition.

Despite the renewed interest, the future of asin tibuok remains uncertain. Only a small number of artisans continue to produce it, and the process requires both time and specialized knowledge.

Preserving the craft will likely depend on whether younger generations are willing to invest in learning the complex techniques involved.Still, the growing appreciation among chefs, historians and cultural organizations offers reason for optimism.For Romano Apatay, each clay pot he opens is more than just a container of salt it is a symbol of history, resilience and identity.

As he carefully reveals another gleaming white sphere from its fragile shell, he knows that the future of this extraordinary “dinosaur egg” salt rests on the dedication of those determined to keep the tradition alive.

The Philippines, which holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship this year, is hosting an economic ministers’ retreat while foreign ministers are scheduled to convene virtually on the same day to discuss the widening crisis and its implications for Southeast Asia.

Philippine Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said the conflict’s economic impact would feature prominently in discussions, particularly as energy prices and logistics disruptions ripple through regional economies.“The concern is a given,” Gepty told reporters, noting that ASEAN governments could not ignore the potential effects on inflation, employment and supply chains.

Joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran launched nearly two weeks ago have killed around 2,000 people and disrupted global energy markets and transportation routes, according to officials cited in the discussions.

The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass, sending crude prices above $100 per barrel and triggering volatility in global markets.

Several Southeast Asian economies depend heavily on crude oil and LNG imports from the Gulf, raising concerns over fuel costs and energy security if disruptions persist.

The Philippines imports a significant portion of its oil from the Middle East, while a halt in liquefied natural gas exports from QatarEnergy has tightened regional supply conditions.

Authorities in Manila have shortened the government work week to conserve fuel, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked Congress for authority to suspend fuel excise taxes to cushion rising costs.

Elsewhere in the region, Vietnam cut retail fuel prices overnight after a recent easing in global crude benchmarks but warned volatility could persist amid ongoing supply disruptions.

Earlier this month, Thailand halted energy exports to all countries except Laos and Myanmar in an effort to safeguard domestic supply.

ASEAN foreign ministers have described the escalation of the conflict as “particularly regrettable” and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging all sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians and resolve differences through dialogue in accordance with international law.

Regional officials say coordinated policy responses will be essential to manage the economic shock if disruptions to energy supplies and trade routes continue.

“It is important that our actions and responses to the ongoing conflicts must be synchronised,” Gepty said.

Caccia, 68, previously served as the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations beginning in 2020 and earlier held a diplomatic posting in the Philippines, where he represented the Holy See during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, whose controversial anti-drug campaign drew international criticism.The appointment places Caccia in one of the Vatican’s most influential diplomatic roles, overseeing relations with the United States, a key global political and economic power and home to one of the largest Catholic populations in the world.Experienced diplomat moves to key postCaccia has spent decades in the Vatican’s diplomatic service, representing the Holy See in several countries and international forums. His tenure as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United Nations placed him at the center of global discussions on humanitarian crises, conflict resolution and multilateral cooperation.Before that role, Caccia served for two years as the Vatican’s envoy in Manila, a period that overlapped with Duterte’s controversial “war on drugs.” The campaign, which Philippine authorities said targeted criminal networks, led to thousands of deaths and was widely criticized by human rights groups and international observers.During that time, the Vatican maintained diplomatic engagement with the Philippine government while continuing to emphasize the Church’s longstanding advocacy for the protection of human life and human dignity.

Caccia’s appointment comes at a moment when relations between the Vatican and Washington have been shaped by disagreements over international policy issues.The Vatican has recently criticized U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, reflecting the Holy See’s broader calls for de-escalation and dialogue in the Middle East. Vatican officials have frequently urged diplomatic solutions to conflicts and warned against actions that could intensify regional instability.Pope Leo has also voiced concern about several policy positions associated with the Trump administration, although the Holy See typically frames such comments in broader moral and humanitarian terms rather than direct political criticism.

As apostolic nuncio, Caccia will serve as the Vatican’s chief diplomatic representative to the United States and as a liaison between the Holy See and the American Catholic Church. The role typically involves managing diplomatic relations with the U.S. government while also playing a part in communication between the Vatican and U.S. bishops.The position has long been considered strategically important within the Vatican’s global diplomatic network, given the United States’ influence in international affairs and its role in shaping debates on security, economic policy and humanitarian initiatives.Caccia’s experience in multilateral diplomacy and his previous postings are expected to shape his approach as the Vatican navigates complex geopolitical developments and ongoing policy differences with Washington.