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Fuel oil imports into South China are estimated to have increased by 27 percent during the month of February, according to local source C1 Energy.

Import volumes are calculated to have been 450,000-500,000 metric tonnes, 27 percent higher than in January and 65 percent below the import figures recorded for the corresponding month in 2009.

In terms of individual port volumes, Huangpu and Guangzhou are forecast to have received a combined total of 250,000 - 300,000 tonnes, whilst Shenzhen's February fuel oil import figure has been estimated at 150,000 tonnes and Gongbei's at 50,000 tonnes.

Of the total fuel oil imported into South China last month, 340,000- 390,000 tonnes, or 75-78 percent, is reported to have been cracked fuel oil with the remainder being straight-run fuel oil for local refineries.

60-64 percent, or 270,000-320,000 tonnes, of the fuel oil imported into South China was calculated to have been exported from Singapore, with 80,000 tonnes coming from Malaysia, 70,000 tonnes from Japan and 30,000 tonnes from Venezuela.