China crude import expected to stay at record levels

Beijing

AS China closes in on the United States as the world's biggest crude oil importer, demand from private refiners and stockpiling of cheap oil is expected to keep imports at record levels after a wobble in the third quarter.

Despite slower growth in recent months - crude imports rose just 1.3 per cent in September on a year earlier - buying for October-November delivery has picked up strongly, traders and analysts say.