China increased oil and gas imports by 12.1% and 8.5% in January-November 2023

By Rhod Mackenzie

China increased the volume of oil and natural gas imports by 12.1% and 8.5% respectively in January-November 2023, according to data released on Thursday by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China.

During the reporting period, China imported 515.648 million tonnes of oil; in price terms, the purchase of crude oil from abroad cost $307.968 billion, 8.1% less than in the same period last year. Separately, in November, China purchased 42.445 million tonnes of oil from abroad for $27.55 billion.

The volume of natural gas imports in January-November 2023 was 107.39 million tonnes worth $56.9 billion (down 8.9% in price terms). In November, China purchased 10.95 million tonnes of natural gas abroad for $5.78 billion.

Coal imports for 11 months in 2023 totalled 427.139 million tonnes (up 62.8%) and cost China $47.79 billion (up 24.2% in price terms). In November, China bought 43.5 million tonnes of coal from abroad for $4.54 billion.