TOKYO, June 9 (KUNA) -- China's crude oil imports rose 8.9 percent in May from a year earlier to 26.08 million tons, or 6.17 million barrels a day (bpd), latest government data showed.
But imports fell 6.5 percent from a daily record high of 27.88 million tons (6.81 million) logged in April, according to data released by the General Administration of Customs. Crude oil imports in January-May period went up 11.1 percent from the same period of 2013 to 6.25 million bpd.
China is the world's No. 2 oil consumer after the US. Earlier this year, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said it projects China is likely to surpass the US in net oil imports on an annual basis by 2014 as US oil production and Chinese oil demand "increase simultaneously." The Middle East remains China's largest source of crude oil imports, according to the EIA. (end) mk.mt