PetroChina briefly became the first company to exceed a $1 trillion market capitalization during its 2007 stock-market debut.
PetroChina’s shares surged on November 5, 2007, when the company began trading in Shanghai. The initial price jump briefly gave it a market value above $1 trillion, making it the first listed company associated with that threshold.
The valuation quickly fell back, and later accounts often distinguish PetroChina’s short-lived debut valuation from Apple’s more durable 2018 milestone. This difference explains why Apple is commonly described as the first company to reach and sustain a trillion-dollar market capitalization in the modern era.
PetroChina is the listed arm of China National Petroleum Corporation, one of China’s major state-owned energy groups. Its business includes oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and distribution.