Beijing eyes cut in fuel oil imports amid boost to consumer subsidies
The rise in import duties, which comes on top of a separate policy last October to reduce tax rebates on fuel oil shipments, will further crimp margins for China's refining sector that has been reeling from lacklustre margins since last year.
ET Year-end Special Reads Buying a home in 2025? Here's how property market can shape up 18 top stock picks for 2025 from 6 leading brokers Five big bangs that shook the corporate world in 2024 The rise in import duties, which comes on top of a separate policy last October to reduce tax rebates on fuel oil shipments, will further crimp margins for China's refining sector that has been reeling from lacklustre margins since last year.
Smaller refineries, especially those without or are short of crude oil import quotas, source for fuel oil as a feedstock to produce higher-value transportation fuels.
A slowdown in China's imports is expected to weigh further on fuel oil benchmark prices in the region, which have softened since last quarter due to ample supplies.
In late 2024, Beijing adjusted import tariffs for some commodities, with the rate for fuel oil rising to 3% from 1% from Jan. 1. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Under the new rule effective Jan. 1, the government also removed the customs code for "other fuel oil and other heavy oil", a change traders said could help curb mislabelling of crude oil as residue fuel that bypasses the quota restrictions.
More Consumer Subsidies China will subsidise more consumer products and boost funding for industrial equipment upgrades, ramping up a program aimed at bolstering domestic consumption in the face of growing headwinds for exports.
Consumers will qualify for a 15% subsidy for buying new mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches under 6,000 yuan ($818), according to an official notice published Wednesday by China's top economic planner and the Ministry of Finance.
But the actual benefit is capped at 1,500 yuan per person each year, with some restrictions placed on the number of goods people can buy. The authorities will also expand the types of home appliances eligible for state support to 12 from eight last year and include new agricultural equipment, according to the announcement.
China has made boosting consumption a higher priority this year as it looks to fight deflation amid subdued household and business confidence.
Exports as a growth engine may also lose steam as trade tensions with the US will likely intensify with Donald Trump returning to the White House later this month.
