China's crude imports last month fell 15% from a year ago to the lowest level since April, as oil companies drew on stocks following record imports in September.
China, the world's second-largest crude buyer, brought in 3.86 million barrels per day last month, and imports for the first 10 months gained 19.5% at 1.6 million barrels, the General Administration of Customs said on its website, www.customs.gov.cn today.
The October level was 1.8 million bpd, or 32% below the record September rate at 5.67 million bpd.
The sharp scaleback came as China's top oil plants reduced crude throughput last month from September, as their profit margins were squeezed ahead of a retail price hike, a Reuters monthly refinery run survey found in early October.
