China’s crude oil imports rose 9.4 per cent on year to 26.35 million tonnes in October, or 6.23 mbpd, preliminary data released by the General Administration of Customs showed.

The October imports were 8.8 per cent lower from September’s 6.829 mbpd.

China’s crude imports in the first 10 months rose 8.9 per cent on year to 274.97 million mt, averaging 6.63 mbpd, down slightly from a rise of 9.2 per cent seen for the year-ago period. China skipped crude exports in October as it had done in October 2014.

Total crude exports of 2.29 million mt over January-October were 536.5 per cent higher than the year-ago period. In the first 10 months of the year, net crude imports reached 272.68 million mt, averaging 6.57 mbpd, up 8.1 per cent on year. China exported 3.28 million mt of oil products in October, down 7.6 per cent from the six-year high of 3.55 million mt in September, but still the second highest level since December 2009. Exports were last seen any higher in December 2009 at 3.77 million mt, tracing back customs data till 2005.

Exports were also up 4.5 per cent from 3.14 million mt exported in October 2014. Oil product imports fell 11 per cent on year to 2.03 million mt in October, down 24.8 per cent from September. This brings net export of oil products to 1.25 million mt, the biggest net export volume seen tracking back customs data till 2005. It expanded further from the net export of 850,000 mt in September.