Lloyd’s List: China’s Oil Imports Ride to 6% in 2011

“China imported 6% more crude oil in 2011 than in 2010, according to preliminary Chinese Customs data. The rise comes as Chinese charterers extend their influence over the dirty tanker market, with Unipec rising to second-busiest tanker charterer after Shell last year, according to shipbroker Poten & Partners. Voracious energy consumer China imported 253.7m tonnes of crude or 5m barrels per day in 2011. Crude imports into China totalled 5.1m barrels per day in December, up 5% year on year.”