The line graph illustrates the changes in oil production and consumption in China over a 24-year period, from 1982 to 2006. Overall, it is clear that China’s reliance on oil grew significantly, as consumption levels climbed sharply while production grew at a much more modest pace.
In 1982, oil production stood at 2.1 million barrels per day, slightly higher than the consumption figure of 1.9 million. Production rose to 3.0 million by 1986 and remained stagnant at this level until 1994. Thereafter, it experienced a gradual upward trend, reaching 3.5 million barrels per day by the end of the period in 2006.
Conversely, oil consumption remained relatively stable between 1982 and 1990, hovering around 1.9 to 2.0 million barrels per day. From 1990 onwards, consumption increased rapidly, overtaking production by 1994. This upward trajectory continued unabated, with consumption reaching 4.0 million in 1998, 5.0 million in 2002, and culminating at 6.3 million barrels per day in 2006. By the end of the timeframe, the gap between consumption and production had widened significantly, highlighting China's increasing demand for oil.