BEIJING, Oct 02, 2007 (SinoCast via COMTEX) -- SNP | charts | news | PowerRating -- China totally exported 257,000 tons of gasoline in August 2007, the lowest level since September 2006, according to China Petroleum & Chemical Industry Association.

The nation's total gasoline exports was continuously decreasing. 526,000 tons of gasoline was exported in June 2007, while was only 330,000 tons in July.

At the same time, China totally imported 45,000 tons of gasoline in August, a record high since several years ago.

As the main gasoline exporter in Asia, China only slightly imported gasoline previously, mainly because of the abundant gasoline supply in the domestic market. For instance, the nation just imported 13.6 tons of gasoline in July 2007.

However, China's gasoline supply started shrinking recently, so the government had to strictly restrict the finished oil export, with a view to ensuring the finished oil supply at home, said an expert.

China National Petroleum Corporation and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation are both bending themselves to solving the problems.