Total
refinery throughput was a record 64.69 million metric tons in August, data from
the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed, up 19.6% from a year ago.
That is the equivalent of 15.23 million barrels per day
(bpd), also a record on a daily basis and up from the 12.64 million bpd
processed a year earlier when extensive COVID pandemic restrictions and weak
domestic fuel demand led refiners to cut runs.
August throughput was also up from July's 14.87 million bpd.
Year-to-date throughput gained 11.9% from a year earlier to
491.4 million tons, or 14.76 million bpd.
Domestic demand for gasoline and kerosene over the August
vacation season was a key driver of domestic fuel consumption, with travel
levels likely to be have been further boosted by revenge travel after the
pandemic, analysts said ahead of the data.
Domestic airline capacity by available seats was around 77.5
million in August, up around 17% from pre-pandemic levels, according to data
from aviation analytics firm OAG.
