In September 2013, China’s net imports of petroleum and other liquids exceeded those of the US on a monthly basis, making it the world’s largest net importer of crude oil and other liquids, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Rapidly increasing Chinese petroleum demand driven by steady economic development outpaces domestic production growth, pushing up the country’s net imports of petroleum and other liquids. Chinese petroleum and other liquids production is expected to rise 5% between 2011 and 2014 compared with a growth rate of 31% in the US over this period. Chinese production is estimated to be only a third of US production in 2014. On the demand side, China’s liquid fuels consumption is expected to reach more than 11 million b/d in 2014. In the meantime, US consumption in 2014 is estimated at 18.9 million b/d, down 9% from the peak consumption in 2005. US refined […]