China CNPC says fuel sales up 17 pct in Q3

BEIJING, Oct 19 (Reuters) Top Chinese oil and gas producer China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) sold 17 percent more fuel in the third quarter this year than a year earlier, reflecting stronger demand in the local market, the company said on Friday.

Even though local fuel prices were lower than international prices, CNPC imported 200,000 tonnes of gasoline and diesel to meet demand in coastal regions, it said in a notice on its Web site (www.cnpc.com.cn).

The state-owned oil giant said its crude processing also increased 10 percent in the quarter from a year earlier and operated refineries at 99 percent of their capacity.

It did not give volume figures for crude oil processed or fuel sold.

Most of CNPC's refining businesses are run by its listed unit, PetroChina , which had said it processed 203 million barrels of crude oil in the third quarter, or 7.8 percent more than the 188.4 million barrels in the same period a year earlier.

REUTERS SBA DB1259