China July Oil Imports Fall From Record; Demand Slows

China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, reduced net imports of crude-oil in July from a record reached in June as slower economic growth curbed fuel demand.

Net crude purchases fell to 18.8 million metric tons, or 4.5 million barrels a day, from an all-time high of 22.1 million tons the previous month, according to preliminary data released today by the Beijing-based General Administration of Customs. This compares with 19.2 million tons in July last year.