Reuters reported that China natural gas imports nearly doubled in the first eight months of the year from a year earlier after it opened a pipeline to move in more central Asian gas and started a new import terminal for liquefied natural gas.

The National Development & Reform Commission said imports in the January to August period were 20.2 billion cubic metres. NDRC said apparent gas consumption expanded 21.7% in the same period to 84.2 billion cubic meters which implies that imports now make up nearly a quarter of the total consumption.

The NDRC said refined fuel stocks by the end of August were 1.6 million tonnes above year-ago levels and the level was basically normal.

The NDRC said "Refined fuel supplies were fairly ample. Fuel demand growth eased in August but still held at a relatively high level."

(Sourced from Reuters)