China’s gasoline exports surged 168.4% year on year to hit a fresh high of 1.73 million mt in October, but gasoil outflow fell to a 13-month low of 1.19 million, preliminary data released by the General Administration of Customs showed Monday.

The October gasoline exports went up further from a 6-month high of 1.67 million reported in September and were 2% higher from the last record registered at 1.698 million mt in March 2018, GAC data showed. The surplus supply of gasoline after the peak driving season in early October around the National Day holiday, have propelled refineries to send more seaborne cargoes overseas, market sources said.

In contrast to the record high exports of gasoline, the country’s gasoil exports fell 19.4% from September. This echoes with the relatively strong domestic demand for gasoil, when low vapor gasoil has been in the market for winter demand.

Over the first 10 months of the year, China’s gasoline exports were up 16.7% year on year to 12.8 million mt, while total gasoil exports were 11.5% higher at 17.54 million mt, GAC data showed.