China's petrochemical sector growth slows further in Q1

China's petrochemical industry expanded at much slower pace in the first quarter amid the economic slowdown, according to data released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Monday.

Petrochemical industrial production rose 16 percent annually to reach 2.4567 trillion yuan (US$391.3 billion) in the first quarter, decelerating further from 22.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, according to NDRC.