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Sources say that China continues to issue fuel quotas in spite of export controls

Four?trade? sources said that China issued its second batch fuel quotas this year. The total is?18 millions metric tons. Despite existing export restrictions, the overall levels are largely unchanged year on year.

China has cut back on outbound shipments since March to protect its domestic oil supply, in light of the protracted conflict in Middle East which is disrupting oil flow.

Sources said that out of the total, 13 million tons quotas had been allocated for the export of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel while 5 millions tons were reserved for marine fuel oil.

Sources said that Sinopec, CNPC, and Sinochem received a total of 4,06 million?tons under the "processing" trade category. These quotas will be used primarily for exports to 'Hong Kong, and aviation fuel refueling at Chinese airports.

Beijing allocated 19 million tons of the first batch quotas this year in December, while the second batch was 18 million tons last year.

The?Commerce ministry of China was not available immediately outside office hours.

Two of the four sources stated that the government had also given 8.94 million tons of quotas to six companies under the "general trade" category, but due to the current restrictions, only Sinopec and PetroChina are allowed to export.

Estimated exports to ex-Hong Kong buyers, mainly in the Asia-Pacific area, for May and Juni were between 500,000-550,000 tonnes.

Two separate sources familiar with the issue said that the government has vetted a list of countries receiving Chinese fuel in the past few months but is easing up on the scrutiny of June shipments. Reporting by Siyi Liu and Trixie Yap; Editing by Alison Williams

(source: Reuters)