BEIJING -- China’s crude oil output totaled 155.84 million tons in the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 0.4 percent, according to data from the country’s top economic planner.

During the January-September period, China refined 340.68 million tons of crude oil, up 3.7 percent year-on-year. Refined oil production rose 4.9 percent to 212.11 million tons, the National Development and Reform Commission said in a statement.

Apparent consumption of refined oil, calculated as production plus imports minus exports, increased 2.8 percent from a year earlier to 200.29 million tons.

In a separate statement, the planner said natural gas output totaled 93.2 billion cubic meters in the first nine months, an increase of 8 percent year-on-year.

China’s imports of natural gas saw an increase of 9.3 percent to 42.4 billion cubic meters, while apparent consumption came in at 129 billion cubic meters, the commission said.

China’s appetite for natural gas has grown substantially with the country’s industrialization and urbanization initiatives amid government efforts to cut carbon emissions.

According to the sector’s development plan, China aims to bring its natural gas supply capacity to around 176 billion cubic meters, making the energy available to 250 million people, or 18 percent of the population, by 2015.