BEIJING- China's diesel and gasoline exports rebounded in September after touching a more than six-year low in the previous month, as refiners received a fresh batch of fuel export quotas, while jet fuel exports were lifted by improving export margins.

The country shipped out 780,000 tonnes of diesel last month, up from 540,000 tonnes in August but 35% lower than levels in the same period last year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Monday.

Gasoline exports rose to 920,000 tonnes, up 61% from August, customs data showed.

Jet kerosene shot up 242% on year to 890,000 tonnes in September, the third highest monthly rate since May 2020, as Asian refining margins for the aviation fuel hit their strongest levels since start of 2020 alongside recovering air travel demand.

China issued a second batch of export quotas of 7.5 million tonnes for refined oil products in early August to six state-run companies and a private refiner.

China-based consultancy JLC expects exports of the country's refined oil products to drop again in October, with diesel at 310,000 tonnes and gasoline at 714,000 tonnes.

"Limited quotas would curb refined fuel exports throughout the remaining period this year," JLC analysts wrote in a note.

Customs data also showed China's liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports grew 19.2% on year to 6.75 million tonnes in September, the highest since May, driving total imports of the superchilled fuel up nearly 23% on year in the first nine months to 58.48 million tonnes.

Below are details of fuel exports and imports of LNG in millions of tonnes, with percentage changes as provided by customs. Exports (mln Sept y/y % change Jan-Sept y/y % change tonnes) Gasoline 0.92 -20.8 11.79 3.5 Diesel 0.78 -34.9 15.72 10.9 Jet fuel 0.89 241.8 6.19 -28.3 Import (mln Sept y/y % change Jan-Sept y/y % change tonnes) LNG 6.75 19.2 58.48 22.7

 

(Reporting by Muyu Xu in Beijing and Chen Aizhu in Singapore; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) ((muyu.xu@thomsonreuters.com; +86 10 56692117;))