london jan 18 reuters  chinas diesel exports rose for a second month in december while gasoline exports climbed for a third month as the countrys covid outbreak limited domestic fuel demand and refiners utilised their expanded yearly export quotas china exported 279 million tonnes of diesel in december representing a 328 increase on novembers 210 million tonnes data from the general administration of customs showed on wednesday that is the highest since march 2021 total diesel exports for the year amounted to 1092 million tonnes versus 1721 million tonnes for 2021 gasoline exports were 191 million tonnes in december the highest since october 2020 and up from 149 million tonnes the month before total gasoline exports for 2022 stood at 1256 million tonnes versus 1454 million tonnes in 2021 refiners continue to offload inventory abroad to make full use of their yearly export quotas after a year in which covid19 restrictions have choked domestic fuel demand though domestic travel initially picked up after restrictions were abruptly eased at the end of november the subsequent nationwide surge in covid cases in december dampened domestic consumer and industrial fuel demand as people stayed home to avoid infection to stimulate the pandemicbattered economy the government issued an additional 1325 million tonnes of export quota for diesel gasoline and jet fuel taking the total 2022 quota to 3725 million tonnes even with 2021s quota the government recently announced its first refined product export quota for 2023 at around 19 million tonnes as it seeks to further help demand however road traffic volumes in some large cities are appearing to increase domestic consumption of refined products such as petrol and kerosene is expected to pick up through the lunar new year which falls on jan 21 with millions of chinese expected to travel for the weeklong holiday below are the details with volumes in million tonnes