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Five of China's top ten fuel oil importers last year were bonded bunker traders, according to data released by ICIS.

The five bunker trading firms listed were China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd. (Chimbusco), Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum Co., Shenzhen Brightoil, China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) Co. (CCBC) and PetroChina.

With a total of 6.05 - 6.25 million tonnes, up 10 percent on the previous year, Chimbusco continued to be ranked as China’s largest fuel oil importer in 2012. Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum Co, was second after importing 2.3 - 2.4 million tonnes, up almost 40 percent year-on-year.

In third place was Shenzhen Brightoil with imports of 1.4 - 1.5 million tonnes, which represented a decrease of 20 percent on 2011. CCBC and PetroChina were ranked eighth and the tenth in the list respectively, whilst SinoBunker failed to make the top ten as imports declined to approximately 220,000 tonnes.

Importers of straight-run fuel oil made up the other five places in the top ten list. Chinaoil was ranked fifth despite imports falling by 76 percent. This was said to be because the company principally acted as an agent.

Shandong Dongming Petrochemical Group, which mainly imported Venezuela 380cst fuel oil via Chinaoil, made the top ten list for the first time. The independent refiner recorded around 700,000 tonnes of imports in 2012, taking fourth place.

China Arts Huahai Import & Export Co and Qingdao Yijia Haiye Trading, which mainly imported fuel oil for independent - or 'teapot' - refineries, maintained stable import levels in 2012.

Meanwile, Mercuria imported 400,000 - 450,000 tonnes of fuel oil for independent refineries in east China. The majority of the company's imports were said to be Russian M100 straight-run fuel oil.