MNI BRIEF: China Oil Imports Increase In December

China imported 55.97 million metric tonnes of crude oil in December, up from 50.89  mmt in November, as total inbound shipments finished the year up 4.4% y/y, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Wednesday.

Inbound shipments of copper ore and its concentrates reached 2.7 million tonnes last month, up from 2.5 million tonnes in November, bringing total import growth over January to December to 7.9% y/y, a deceleration from the 8.0% y/y during the first 11 months.

Coal imports from January to December fell 9.6% y/y, narrowing from the 12.0% contraction during the first 11 months.

Authorities in China are expected to assess the need for substantial property market stimulus after Q1, following recent signals in high-level government reports, advisors and analysts recently told MNI. (See MNI: China To Assess Housing Stimulus)