China's imports of major commodities rise in H1

China imported more major commodities in the first half of this year (H1), data from the General Administration of Customs showed Friday.

A view of the Port of Qingdao, Shandong Province. [File photo: IC]

The country's imports of crude oil climbed 8.8 percent year-on-year to 245 million tonnes during the period.

A total of 46.92 million tonnes of natural gas were imported during the period, up 11.6 percent from one year earlier. Imports of coal increased 5.8 percent year-on-year to 154 million tonnes.

However, iron ore imports during the Jan.-June period declined 5.9 percent to 499 million tonnes. Soybean imports also went down 14.7 percent year-on-year to 38.27 million tonnes.

Customs data showed the country's total foreign trade volume rose 3.9 percent year-on-year to 14.67 trillion yuan (2.14 trillion U.S. dollars) in H1.