ChinaScope Financial reports that data released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on February 27 shows that China's natural gas output for January 2013 was 11.2 billion cubic meters, up 14.4 percent year-on-year (YoY).

In January, the nation imported 4.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas (including liquefied natural gas), an increase of 42.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Apparent consumption of natural gas for January was 16.4 billion cubic meters, an increase of 20.0 percent from a year earlier.