May 21, 2012. China's apparent oil demand in April edged up just 0.3 percent year on year to 38.32 million metric tons (mt), or an average 9.36 million barrels per day (bpd). This is the lowest year-on-year monthly growth in oil demand since June 2011, when it fell 8.2 percent to 9.02 million bpd, from a high base in the same month of the previous year. April demand was dragged down by low refining levels, with total runs falling 0.3 percent on year to 36.96 million mt, or an average 9.03 million bpd. April's crude oil processing volumes were also the lowest so far this year on a barrels-per-day basis compared with 9.07 million bpd in March, 9.32 million bpd in February and 9.38 million bpd in January.