Oil security: A top priority for China

In 2003, China produced some 169 million tons of crude oil (up 1.5 percent year-on-year) and 34 billion cubic meters of natural gas (up 6.8 percent).

Meanwhile in that same year, crude oil imports were 91 million tons (up 31.3 percent). Imports accounted for 36.1 percent of national consumption that reached 252 million tons (up 10.2 percent). Total oil consumption was 274 million tons (up 11.5 percent).