2023 crude imports 11.28 mln bpd, 11 on yr
2023 natgas imports 2nd highest on record; Dec imports at record
2023 refined fuel exports 16.7 on yr

Jan 12 Reuters China39;s annual crude oil imports hit an alltime high in 2023, customs data showed on Friday, as fuel demand recovered from a pandemicinduced slump despite economic headwinds.

China imported 11 more crude oil last year versus 2022 at 563.99 million metric tons, equivalent to 11.28 million barrels per day bpd, up from a previous record of 10.81 million bpd in 2020, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.

Imports in December totalled 48.36 million tons, or 11.39 million bpd, up from November39;s 10.33 million bpd.

Domestic passenger transport levels increased steadily through 2023 following the country39;s abrupt exit from pandemic restrictions in November 2022.

China39;s highway traffic for 2023 jumped 43.6 from the previous year in passenger kilometres for the January to November period, according to Ministry of Transport data.

Domestic air traffic also recovered rapidly, rising 27 on the previous year to reach a new record in December, according to data from aviation analytics firm OAG. International travel saw a more muted recovery, with December flight volumes still down 39 on the same month in 2019, shortly before borders were closed.

Domestic diesel demand was weaker amid an ongoing slowdown in the construction sector and an uncertain outlook for the manufacturing sector.

China39;s…