SINGAPORE: China’s diesel and gasoline exports continued to surge in November, hitting their highest levels since June and May 2021 respectively, as refiners dashed to use up their 2022 export quotas and sell down rising inventory.

China shipped out 2.1 million tonnes of diesel last month, double the level in October and up from 600,000 tonnes in the same period in 2021, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Sunday.

Exports of gasoline were 1.49 million tonnes in November, compared to 1 million tonnes a month earlier and 810,000 tonnes a year earlier.

The flood of fuel shipments followed China’s surprising decision in September to issue 15 million tonnes of additional export quotas as the country strived to rev up its pandemic-dampened economy.

Refiners also scrambled to step up exports to mitigate their product inventory pressure as the government’s zero-COVID-19 measures throttled domestic oil demand.

Diesel and gasoline output were expected to fall in November from the prior month by 1.3% and 2.8%, respectively, according to China-based Longzhong consultancy.

Jet fuel exports also jumped in November, up 8.6% from October to 1.26 million tonnes, due to recovering international travel outside China.

China’s economic output to exceed 120trn yuan in 2022

Analysts forecast China’s refined oil product shipments to keep rising in December, led by diesel, but the export policy may swing in 2023 as the easing of COVID-19 controls is expected to boost domestic fuel consumption.

Customs data on Sunday also showed China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports fell 5.4% from a year earlier to 6.42 million tonnes. Over the first 11 months, LNG imports were 20.1% below a year earlier at 56.88 million tonnes.