Kazakhstan's oil exports to China fall by 22pc in Jan-July

MOSCOW: Kazakhstan's oil exports to China fell by 22% in January-July from the same period a year ago reflecting a rise in domestic consumption, data showed on Tuesday.

Data from a Kazakh state-owned energy monitor showed the supplies via the Atasu - Alashankou pipeline, the only oil exporting route between the two countries, reached 625,783 tonnes in January - July.

In July, it fell to 37,470 tonnes from 89,925 tonnes in June.

Kazakhstan still plans to increase oil exports to China. It expects to boost oil supplies to its neighbour to 6-7 million tonnes a year from just 1 million tonnes, starting from the second half of 2020.

Kazakh oil exports to China fell to 1.3 million tonnes last year from a peak of 11.8 million tonnes in 2013. This was due to the declining output of oilfields in northwestern and southern Kazakhstan - many of which are operated by Chinese companies.