Five bonded bunker traders made the list of China's top ten fuel oil importers in 2012 as their collective imports grew, according to C1 Energy.

China Marine Bunker (PetroChina) Co Ltd (Chimbusco), Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum Co, and China Changjiang Bunker (Sinopec) Co (CCBC) all imported more than last year, while imports for PetroChina-TAFO and Shenzhen Brightoil declined.

Chimbusco remained the nation's largest fuel oil importer at 6.05 million to 6.25 million tonnes, a 10 percent increase from last year, while Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum Co increased its imports to 40 percent, putting it second in the rankings at 2.3 million to 2.4 million tonnes.

Shenzhen Brightoil's total imports fell 20 percent, but the company was still third on the list at 1.4  to 1.5 million tonnes.

“Shenzhen Brightoil's total imports fell 20 percent.

 Brightoil Chairman Raymond Sit Kwong Lam said recently that the company aims to expand its China bunker business "significantly."

Straight-run fuel oil importers took the other five places on the list, with Shandong Dongming Petrochemical Group, a company importing Venezuelan oil through Chinaoil, ranked fourth.

Chinaoil itself was in fifth place, with imports down 76 percent because it acted mainly as an agent.

The remaining three importers on the list were China Arts Huahai Import & Export Co, Qingdao Yijia Haiye Trading, and Mercuria.

The Shanghai Shipbrokers Association (SSA) said in July that the Chinese government was making slow progress on efforts to open up the bonded bunker market to new players.