PetroChina was the first non-U.S. company to exceed a $1 trillion market capitalization.
PetroChina briefly surpassed a $1 trillion valuation on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in November 2007. The surge came after the company’s A-shares began trading in Shanghai at a price far above the level implied by its Hong Kong-listed shares. Its market value then fell sharply, making the record a short-lived peak rather than a permanently maintained ranking.
PetroChina is the listed arm of China National Petroleum Corporation, one of China’s major state-owned energy groups. Its business includes exploration, production, refining, chemicals, and fuel distribution.
This record is often confused with later technology milestones, especially Apple’s 2018 crossing of $1 trillion. It is also important to distinguish a company’s brief intraday market value from a closing valuation, since prices can move substantially within one trading session.