China's imports of crude oil in November slid 7.1 percent from a year earlier while exports of heavier products rose, customs data showed on Monday, denting hopes of a year-end rebound in demand.
The world's number-two oil consumer imported 10.33 million tonnes (2.51 million bpd) of crude last month, 7.1 percent less than in the same month of 2004 and the second-lowest since January.
Apparent demand - production plus net imports but excluding stock changes - had jumped 9.7 percent in September and rose a firm 5.4 in October, fanning hopes of a recovery, but November data seems to have dampened that hope. November demand data was not immediately available.
Near-record refinery output helped curtail fuel imports, but refiners were apparently drawing down crude stocks and output was only 4.5 percent higher than a year before, the weakest growth since February, as plants neared maximum capacity.
Refineries also planned to trim runs in December, meaning China is unlikely to reach annual imports of 130 million tonnes recently forecast by the country's vice-commerce minister.
Diesel, kerosene and fuel oil exports all rose in November as producers took advantage of higher global prices, but shipments of lighter gasoline - on which Beijing has placed export curbs - were barely half levels the same month of 2004.
Although slightly higher than in October, at 201,400 tonnes they were also a fraction of exports over the summer, when refiners tried to balance losses caused by tight domestic caps on retail prices by selling into far higher global markets.
Exports of diesel more than doubled to 71,454 tonnes in November. Imports tumbled by 71 percent, despite a waiver on import tariffs designed to help keep the market supplied - but a flurry of imports at the end of last year meant there was a high base for comparison.
China remained a naphtha exporter for the month, shipping 68,418 tonnes abroad and importing almost none, as it is also expected to do this month.
Sinopec Corp had surprised the market with spot imports in September and October - prompting speculation that gasoline stocks were brimming after export curbs, which could encourage refiners to ramp out naphtha output.
Imports of fuel oil, which is affected by high international prices because it is one of the few products for which the government does not cap retail prices, fell nearly 40 percent to 1.96 million tonnes.
But at the same time exports of crude leapt to their strongest level since April, around 15 times higher than in the same period of last year at 949,247 tonnes, as producers rushed to take advantage of higher global markets.
Official figures also showed that this year's earlier strong growth in domestic crude production was easing, a trend that could force refiners to boost overseas purchases.