China's crude imports recorded the first decline in the first half since 2013

Data issued by the General Administration of Customs today, Tuesday, showed that China's imports of crude oil declined by 3% in the first half of this year, as total imports amounted to 40.14 million tons in June, equivalent to 9.77 million barrels per day, compared to 9.65 million barrels per day in May. The total imports to the largest importer of crude oil in the world in the first half of 2021 amounted to about 260.66 million tons, or 10.51 million barrels per day, down by 3% from last year. Total imports of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas, rose to 10.21 million tons in June, compared to 10.32 million tons in May, and exports of refined fuels rose by about two-thirds compared to last year to reach 6.44 million tons in June.