China’s diesel exports fell from a three-month high while imports surged as the government’s decision to halt fuel price cuts amid crude’s crash made domestic sales more attractive. The world’s largest energy consumer shipped overseas 730,000 metric tons of diesel in January, the lowest in five months, data from the General Administration of Customs showed Sunday. While that’s more than tenfold the same period a year ago, exports slid 26 percent from about 980,000 tons during the previous month. Imports more than tripled from December to 150,000 tons, the highest in 10 months. China has been flooding regional markets with diesel as stockpiles of the fuel swell amid slowing industrial activity and shifting demand growth toward gasoline. The government’s decision not to cut retail prices when oil falls below $40 a barrel has made domestic sales more profitable compared with exports, according to ICIS China, a Shanghai-based commodity consultant. […]