BEIJING: China's processing of crude in refineries in June rose 10.8 percent from a year earlier to 9.636 million barrels per day (bpd), the highest daily output since February, as refineries boosted production after maintenance in April and May.
The data shows steady demand for crude in the world's second-biggest oil consumer despite a sluggish economy, likely lending support to prices.
The daily rate was up 4.7 percent, or 436,000 bpd, versus the 9.2 million bpd level in May, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed.
The hefty 10.8 percent year-on-year increase was partly due to a weak base in June last year when crude throughput recorded a year-on-year decline to hit a 20-month low.
In the first half of this year, crude runs rose 4.1 percent from a year earlier to 236.79 million tonnes, or 9.55 million bpd, the data showed.
After new refineries with 670,000 bpd of capacity were brought on line in late 2012, China has not started any new facilities in the first half of the year.
China's annual economic growth slowed to 7.5 percent in the second quarter of 2013 from 7.7 percent - the second straight quarter of slower growth. The world's second-largest economy grew 7.6 percent in the first six months of 2013 from a year earlier, official data showed on Monday.
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