Crude throughput

CRUDE oil throughput in July rose 4 percent from a year earlier, official data showed yesterday, buoyed by improved refinery profit-margins and as new plants started production.

Refinery runs reached 52.6 million tons last month, or about 12.39 million barrels per day (bpd), according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). However, that was down over 5 percent from June’s record of 13.07 million bpd, amid mounting supplies from more-efficient giant producers.

Steel output eases

THE country’s monthly crude steel output fell for a second straight month in July, official data showed yesterday, as steel mills trimmed output amid heightened environmental measures and record raw material prices.

The world’s top steelmaker produced 85.22 million tons of crude steel last month, data from the NBS showed, down from 87.53 million tons in June but still well above 81.24 million tons a year earlier. China’s steel production has been strong this year despite relatively thin margins, supported by firm demand from sectors such as property and infrastructure.

Coal output falls

COAL output in China fell in July from June’s record production, official data showed yesterday, despite strong demand from electricity utilities to power air-conditioners during the hot summer months.

Chinese miners produced 322.23 million tons of coal last month, down 3.3 percent from 333.35 million tons in June but well above 281.5 million tons in July last year, data from the NBS showed. Weaker production at domestic mines came as coal imports rose 21 percent in July from the previous month to 32.9 million tons. Output over the first seven months of 2019 was still up 4.3 percent from the same period last year at 2.09 billion tons, the NBS data showed.