Crude imports

CHINA boosted crude imports by 14.3 percent in February to match a 3.6 million barrel a day (bpd) record high, data showed yesterday, as State refiners rushed to fill inventories after a severe diesel shortage late last year.

The country imported 14.29 million tons of crude last month, up 14.3 percent on the 3.15 million bpd shipped in February 2007, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement posted on its Web site.

Iron ore imports

THE country’s iron ore imports rose to a record 38.2 million tons in February, 4 percent more than the previous peak in January, as steel mills and merchants raced to import before higher prices kick in.

Pork prices

PRICES of pork, a major item underlying China’s consumer inflation, fell 0.75 percent in the week ending March 7, reaching 14.56 yuan (US$2.05) per 500 grams, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said yesterday.

Prices of all other surveyed food items, including beef and eggs, also declined over the week. Pork prices were 1.6 percent lower than Feb. 3, when they stood at 14.80 yuan per 500 grams.