A Glance of China Oil Market 20250915

Weekly News

China Sep gasoline consumption expected to contract 3% MoM

According to OilChem's analysis, China's gasoline consumption is projected to contract in September with the ending summer travel peak, and the routine stockpiling ahead of the National Day holiday in October is unlikely to overturn the downtrend on the demand end. In detail, China's daily gasoline consumption is estimated at 427,000 tonnes/day in September, down 3.1% from the daily average in August and falling 4.0% from the same period last year, OilChem's data showed. The summer travel peak has ended, leading to a decline in long-distance trips and migration indices, as well as an overall reduction in oil demand for vehicle air conditioning. Read Full Story

China isobutane dehydrogenation units show high operating rates despite losses

Despite losses for domestic isobutane dehydrogenation plants, the industry's operating rate perched high amid healthy exports of downstream product MTBE. Since the beginning of 2025, isobutane dehydrogenation units suffered long-term losses, with the largest loss reading more than Yuan 1,000/tonne. Isobutane dehydrogenation units' operating rate, however, reached a high of 86% in H1 July, and remained above 75% in August in spite of maintenances at some units, OilChem's data showed. Read Full Story

Northern China LNG supply may shrink on intensive maintenances

The supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) in northern China is expected to tighten amid intensive maintenances of natural gas plants. There are expectations of tightening LNG supply from the main production areas in the north, particularly in Inner Mongolia, a main producing areas for LNG in China. Some local plants are anticipated to undergo maintenances or production cuts intensively, which may lead to a significant reduction in future resource availability, accordingly driving up the price of domestic LNG resources. Read Full Story