Key facts
- China's October crude imports of 41.94 million tons equal 9.88 million barrels per day, per customs data.
- The daily crude import rate rose 9.4% from September but the monthly total fell 13.3% from a year earlier.
- Oil product exports fell to 5.18 million tons in October from 7.16 million tons in September, up 14.6% year on year.
- Oil product imports rose to 3.15 million tons in October from 1.85 million tons in September.
- Natural gas imports rose 2.4% from a year earlier to 10.01 million tons in October.
- January-to-October natural gas imports totaled 99.22 million metric tons, down 2.8% from a year earlier.
China imported 41.94 million metric tons of crude oil in October, equal to 9.88 million barrels per day, the General Administration of Customs said on November 10. The volume was the highest since March, and the daily rate was 9.4% above September, though the monthly total was 13.3% lower than a year earlier.
Reuters reported that the rise to the highest level since March followed disruption to Middle East supplies from the US-Israeli war on Iran. China is the world's biggest oil buyer.
The customs data also showed oil product exports, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil, fell to 5.18 million tons in October from 7.16 million tons in September, but were 14.6% higher than a year earlier. Refined product exports in the first 10 months of the year totaled 46.59 million tons, down 2% from a year earlier.
Oil product imports rose to 3.15 million tons in October from 1.85 million tons in September. January-to-October imports fell to 27.15 million tons from 34.19 million tons a year earlier.
Natural gas imports, including liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas, rose 2.4% from a year earlier to 10.01 million tons in October. Imports over January to October totaled 99.22 million metric tons, down 2.8% from a year earlier.