Throughput jumps to 14.87 mln bpd
Domestic crude output up 1.4 year on year
Domestic natural gas output up 7 year on year

BEIJING, May 16 Reuters China39;s oil refinery throughput in April rose 18.9 from a year earlier to the secondhighest level on record, data showed on Tuesday, as refiners maintained high runs to meet recovering domestic fuel demand and build stockpiles ahead of the summer travel season.

Total refinery throughput in the world39;s secondlargest oil consumer reached 61.1 million tonnes, data from the National Bureau of Statistics NBS showed, equivalent to 14.87 million barrels per day bpd.

That compares with 12.6 million bpd in April last year, when throughput slumped due to the impact of widespread COVID19 lockdowns on domestic fuel demand.

April runs were slightly less than March levels, which broke alltime records as refiners stepped up output to capture strong export demand and build inventories ahead of shutdowns for maintenance. Refinery throughput was equivalent to 14.9 million bpd last month.

Refinery runs have remained high as domestic fuel demand continues to recover following the lifting of COVID restrictions late last year.

The May Day holiday, which ran from April 29 through May 3, also provided a significant boost to domestic demand for both gasoline and jet fuel, as domestic travel spiked with pentup household demand.

Increased runs at other refineries made up for the shutdown of some plants for maintenance in April, said Xu Peng,…