China's crude oil imports increased by 4.8% in August compared to the previous month, reaching approximately 49.5 million tons, according to preliminary data from the General Administration of Customs.
On an annual basis, the imports showed a modest rise of 0.8%.
For the January-August period, total imports reached about 376 million tons, up 2.5% from the same period last year.
The increase follows refinery maintenance, usually between March and May, as refineries continue running at high rates.
As the world's largest crude oil importer, changes in China's oil demand significantly impact global oil markets.
The country has more than 80 refineries, most of which are operated by state-owned firms, with a combined annual crude processing capacity of around 956 million tons as of the end of 2024.
By Fuat Kabakci and Firdevs Yuksel
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
