China crude imports down 8% in Jan, lowest in 13 months

China's crude imports fell eight percent year-on-year in January, its lowest since November 2007, official data released on Wednesday showed.

Weak demand caused by the global economic downturn was the key reason for the decline, said Lin Boqiang, an energy analyst with Xiamen University.

China imported 12.82 million tons of crude last month, down 11 percent from the 14.37 million tons in December 2008, the General Administration of Customs said in its Wednesday report.