BEUING. July 6: China produced a record 72.38 million tonnes of crude oil in the first six months of 1994, only 0.5 per cent more than for the same period last year, the China Daily said Wednesday, reports AFP.

China’s onshore oil fields pumped 69.19 million tonnes of the crude while offshore wells produced 3.07 million tonnes.

Industry experts expect China, to become a net importer of oil either this year or In 1995 as production at old fields, now mostly at peak output. begins to fall off while demand soars due to rapid economic growth.

China's crude imports grew from 15.000 barrels per day (BPD) in 1990 to 250,000 BPD last year, and are expected to reach 1.3 million BPD by the year 2000.

Total crude production for the whole of 1994 is forecast to reach 146 million tonnes, compared with 144 million tonnes in 1993.

Crude output in the eastern par of China, where the oldest fields are located, still accounts for 90 per cen of the nation's total. .