CHINA’S commodity imports jumped again in December, pushing 2016 shipments of goods from crude to iron ore to record levels and boosting expectations that lower domestic output will help prolong the months-long buying binge.

    For 2016, shipments of oil, iron ore, unwrought copper, copper concentrates and soybeans hit all-time highs, the General Administration of Customs said Friday. Coal was the exception, but imports were still up by a quarter on a year ago.

    Oil and soybeans also hit record monthly totals in December, while coal shipments were among the highest on record and iron ore notched up the third biggest volumes for the year.

    The splurge helped spur stronger-than-expected imports for the world’s largest trading nation.

    The data reflected a major recovery by the world’s second-largest economy, as hefty government spending in infrastructure fueled demand for base metals and steel, and government’s efforts to clean up dirty industries like coal forced utilities to scramble for lower-priced supplies abroad.(SD-Agencies)