(Yicai Global) May 15 -- China bought 167.6 million tons of overseas crude oil from January to April, up 1.7 percent from a year ago, according to official data.

In April, such purchases were down 7.5 percent at 40.4 million tons from a year earlier, according to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics today.

In the first four months of this year, China processed 3.4 percent less crude oil at 203.5 million tons from a year ago. In April, the tally was 0.8 percent up at 53.9 million tons from a year earlier.

China produced 2 percent more crude at 64.4 million tons over the four months. In April, output was 0.9 percent higher at 15.9 million tons.

Editor: Emmi Laine