Mainland fuel exports rise amid war restrictions

The mainland's gasoline, diesel and jet fuel exports to Southeast and South Asia rose in May but were still less than a year earlier due to export restrictions imposed over the Iran war to safeguard domestic supply.

Customs data released on Saturday showed that refined oil product exports outside of Hong Kong and Macao SARs rose 40 percent from April, though they slumped 69 percent from the same period last year.

The export curbs do not cover the refuelling of international ships and planes, or exports to Hong Kong and Macao SARs, where levels were steady.

Diesel exports, including biodiesel, in May rose 53 percent from April, with volumes exported more than doubling to 216,196 tonnes, including 62,772 tonnes to Bangladesh and 28,700 tonnes to Sri Lanka.

Diesel exports to Southeast Asian countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand totalled 77,079 tonnes.

Australia received 20,255 tonnes as the only non-Asian importer of diesel.

Biodiesel exports rose 11.5 percent from April to 43,636 tonnes in May, with the Netherlands and Belgium as the major importers.

Jet fuel exports slumped 61 percent to 499,388 tonnes, but rose 20 percent from April. Chinese jet fuel exports include both aircraft refuelling and cargo exports.

Vietnam received the largest share, at more than 97,900 tonnes, and Australia received 79,000 tonnes of the agreed volume after discussions between the two countries in May. (Reuters)

Edited by Azam Khan ...