For the first eleven months of 1998, China imported a total of 13.26 million tonnes of fuel oil, up 23 per cent from a year ago, Chinese customs figures showed.

Traders estimated that China's 1998 fuel oil imports would be about 14.5 to 15 million tonnes.

The key ports for fuel oil imports are Huangpu, in South China's Guangdong province, followed by Shanghai and Fujian. Huangpu alone received nearly 10 million tonnes of imported fuel oil in 1998, a Hong Kong-based Chinese trader said. Officials charged with fuel oil import quotas declined to comment on the exact volume.