China's consumption of apparent crude oil and refined oil products hit a record high in the first half of the year, totaling 173.03 million tons and 106.112 million tons respectively, up 6.8 percent and 9.6 percent on the previous year.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the "apparent consumption" represents the sum of net imports and output but excludes inventory.

Crude oil output rose by 1.7 percent to 93.31 million tons and refined oil output increased by 7.2 percent to 95.972 million tons.

The net imports of crude oil over the same period hit 79.72 million tons, up 18.4 percent, while that for refined oil reached 10.14 million tons, down 15.7 percent, customs figures show.

An analyst with the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association said oil output in the old oil fields in northeast China was on the decline, but it was boosted by western and offshore oil fields.

NBS statistics also showed the output of China's refinery products stood at 161 million tons, up seven percent on last year.

Gong Jinshuang, senior engineer with the research institute of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China's largest oil producer, said the relatively low crude oil price had increased profit margins for refined oil.

China's imports of refined oil were 18.05 million tons, down one percent, but its refined oil exports reached 7.91 million tons, up 27.6 percent.

An analyst with CPCC said the increased output of refined oil and the low oil price on the Chinese market were the major contributors to the increased exports volume.

In the first half year, China gasoline output was 29.8 million tons, up eight percent on last year; kerosene 55.21 million tons, up 14 percent and diesel oil 60.65 million tons, up 6.2 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25 2007)