By Yara Abi Farraj
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China’s gasoline exports fall 50.8 percent to lowest in 9 years in April

Domestic travel saw a 28 percent increase compared to 2019, fueling demand for gasoline
China’s gasoline exports fall 50.8 percent to lowest in 9 years in April
China's gasoline exports will likely remain low in May, with forecasts of a 3 to 6 percent annual increase during the month

China’s gasoline exports fell to their lowest since July 2015 in April, data from the General Administration of Customs recently revealed. Gasoline exports in April recorded 3.38 million barrels per day, a 50.8 percent annual decline and a 65 percent decline compared to March 2024.

Analysts attribute the decline in exports to the rising demand for domestic travel in China. Hence, during China’s Labour Day holiday, domestic travel saw a 28 percent increase compared to 2019 despite weather conditions limiting travel in the southern part of the country. China’s country’s gasoline exports will likely remain low in May, with forecasts of a 3 to 6 percent annual increase during the month.

Customs data also revealed a 46 percent monthly decline in diesel exports to 760,000 tons from 1.42 million tons in March. However, diesel exports rose 21.8 percent compared to April 2023.

Meanwhile, jet fuel exports saw a 90.4 percent annual increase to 1.59 million metric tons. However, they declined from 1.98 million tons in March, the data revealed.

Read: 2.5 million barrel drop in U.S. crude, 235,000 barrel gasoline drawdown as refining, demand rise: EIA

In April, international flights rose over 50 percent to 55,672, according to Variflight’s civil aviation data. However, the number was 30 percent lower compared to April 2019.

In addition, the customs report revealed that imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) saw a 31.5 percent annual increase to 6.22 million tons in April. However, they saw a decline from March’s 6.65 million tons.

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