SOARING crude prices have not slowed China's consumption of oil as statistics show that its consumption of crude oil and refined oil products hit record highs in the first quarter of the year.

According to statistics released yesterday by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association, China's apparent consumption of oil products comprising gasoline, diesel and kerosene rose 16.5 percent year on year to 52.73 million tonnes in the first three months, and crude oil climbed 8 percent to 91.8 million tonnes.