China's diesel exports in April surged 43% from a year earlier, customs data showed on Thursday, while kerosene shipments also rallied as new oil refineries came on stream amid a build-up of domestic supply.
Diesel exports rose to 2.6 million tonnes from 1.82 million tonnes in the same month last year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed, though the April number fell from 2.71 million tonnes in March.
Data showed gasoline exports last month fell 3.1% to 1.17 million tonnes, versus 1.21 million tonnes in April last year and 1.69 million tonnes in March.
Overseas sales of jet fuel were 1.54 million tonnes in April, up 31% from a year earlier. China last week issued a second batch of fuel export quotas for 2019 that is 30% more than a first batch issued last December.
While China is the world's second-largest oil consumer, refinery output has increased faster than fuel demand, creating a fuel supply surplus.
Even more refining capacity is coming on line as privately held Hengli Petrochemical Co Ltd brings a new plant, able to process 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude, to full production later this month.
Zhejiang Petrochemical, controlled by Rongsheng Petrochemical Co Ltd, also said on Monday it is entering trial operations at its 400,000-bpd refinery in east China.
But China's gasoline demand has dropped amid falling vehicle sales in the world's largest auto market. Sales fell 15% in April from a year earlier in a tenth consecutive month of decline.