China's crude oil imports for 2006 are expected to rise by 10%-18% from last year to 140 million to 150 million metric tons or 2.81 million to 3.01 million barrels a day.

Based on the import figure by August, crude imports will likely grow by 10%- 18% for the whole of this year, or even higher if China registers increasing imports in the last few months.

In the first eight months of this year, China imported 95.8 million tons of crude or 2.89 million b/d on average, up 15.2% on year.

China maintained the robust momentum in crude imports in September by importing 13.46 million metric tons or an average of 3.29 million b/d, preliminary data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

The country's fast-growing demand for crude was mainly due to booming oil consumption in its transport sector and the start of filling its strategic oil reserve facility.

Source:佚名