China’s Net Crude Imports Climb After Diesel Shortage

China, the world’s biggest energy user, increased net imports of crude oil by 1.4 percent in December from a month earlier as refineries maintained high operating rates to ease a diesel shortage.

China bought 20.6 million metric tons, or 4.9 million barrels a day, more than it exported last month, data from the Beijing-based General Administration of Customs showed today. Overseas purchases for 2010 rose 18 percent from a year earlier to a record 239.3 million tons, according to the data.