(Yicai Global) Oct. 18 --  The growth of China's imports of crude oil outpaced increases in domestic production and processing during the first three quarters of  this year, according to a data set completed today.

During the nine months,  China produced 1.2 percent more crude than a year ago at 143.13 million  tons, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement today. In  September, such production rose 2.9 percent to 15.64 million tons.

China imported 369 million  tons of crude during the nine months, up 9.7 percent, the nation's  customs released on Oct. 14. In September, the annual growth rate was  10.8 percent with a tally of 41.24 million tons.

China processed 480 million  tons of the fossil fuel in the three quarters, 6.2 percent more than  during the same period of last year, the NBS added today. In September,  the tally rose by 9.4 percent to 56.49 million tons.

Editor: Emmi Laine