This represents a customs-cleared crude oil import bill in July that is 6.1% higher than in the same month a year earlier.

Steady demand from the power sector has been given as the reason for the increase in the country's July import volume of crude, fuel oil and liquefied natural gas. The unplanned shutdown of many of the country's nuclear power reactors has also brought about the increase.

Apart from crude oil and condensates, imports of heavy fuel oil also surged to 291,000 kilolitres from 98,640 KL in July 2002. Imports of LNG also increased 21.4% to 5.85 million metric tons. However, imports of naphtha and gasoline fell 8.8% on year to 2.41 million KL. This was due in part to an unplanned shutdown of Tosoh Corp's naphtha cracker in Yokkaichi.