CHINA'S net imports of crude oil rose 18.1 percent in the first eight months over the same period last year to 108.2 million tons, according to the latest Customs figures.

From January to August, China imported 110.4 million tons of crude oil and exported 2.18 million tons, the General Administration of Customs said. Domestic output of crude oil reached 124.7 million tons in the period, up 1.3 percent year on year. The figure was 0.4 percentage point lower than the rise for last year.