It is being reported that China has now surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest importer of crude oil.
Official customs statistics for April show that China imported some 30 million tons of crude oil in April, a 13 percent jump from March.
The total would be equivalent roughly some 222 million barrels.
Which means, on an average scale, China imported 7.4 million barrels a day in April.
According to Financial Times, the import number in the U.S. stood at 7.2 million barrels a day.
The gain for Chinese imports contrasted with China's exports of crude oil, which fell 41% during April.