BEIJING — China's refined oil consumption registered a drop in the January-August period, industrial data showed.

Apparent consumption of refined oil came in at 217.33 million metric tons for the period, down 3.5 percent year-on-year, according to data from the National Development and Reform Commission.

Consumption of gasoline fell 0.5 percent year-on-year and consumption of aviation fuel dropped 38.4 percent, while that of diesel gained 2 percent from January to August.

Meanwhile, apparent consumption of natural gas totaled 205.87 billion cubic meters in the first eight months, up 3.2 percent year-on-year, the data showed.