China crude oil output rises

Crude oil output in China reached 18.3 million tonnes in August, a year on year increase of 4.9 percent, data from the top economic planner showed on Tuesday.

China refined 40.37 million tonnes of crude oil during the period, up 2.8 percent year on year, while refined oil production rose 3.7 percent to 25.15 million tonnes, Xinhua news agency cited the National Development and Reform Commission as saying in a statement.

Consumption of refined oil, calculated as production plus imports minus exports, increased 2.2 percent from a year earlier to 24.52 million tonnes.

In a separate statement, the planner said natural gas output totalled 10.6 billion cubic metres last month, up 3.8 percent year on year.

Imports of natural gas saw an increase of 1.4 percent to 4.7 billion cubic metres, while apparent consumption came in at 14.1 billion cubic metres, the commission said.