BEIJING — China imported more major commodities in the first quarter of 2019, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The imports of crude oil surged by 8.2 percent year-on-year to 121 million tonnes while that of refined oil rose by 5.8 percent to 8.72 million tonnes in the same period.

About 24.27 million tonnes of natural gas were imported, up 17.8 percent from the same period last year.

China’s soybean imports, however, declined by 14.4 percent to 16.75 million tonnes.

China’s foreign trade of goods climbed 3.7 percent year-on-year in Q1 to 7.01 trillion yuan ($1.04 trillion), GAC data showed.

Exports increased by 6.7 percent year-on-year to 3.77 trillion yuan in the first three months, while imports went up by 0.3 percent to 3.24 trillion yuan, the GAC said.