China’s crude oil output edges up

China’s crude oil output in the first two months rose slightly year on year, according to the country’s top economic planner.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that crude oil production stood at 34.21 million tonnes in January and February, up 1.2 percent from a year earlier.

The country refined 76.05 million tonnes of crude oil during the first two months, up 1.5 percent year on year, while output of refined products rose by 3 percent to 47.85 million tonnes, the NDRC said.

Apparent consumption of refined oil products rose 8 percent from a year earlier to 42.93 million tonnes.

In the same period, natural gas output rose 7.7 percent to 23.5 billion cubic meters, while imports climbed 15.5 percent to 10.7 billion cubic meters.

Apparent consumption of natural gas rose 6.2 percent year on year to 34.1 billion cubic meters, according to the NDRC.