China's total natural gas imports rose 26.4% year on year to 3.9 billion cubic meters (4.44 Bcf/day) in October, the National Development and Reform Commission said Wednesday on its website.

It did not give a breakdown between imported LNG and pipeline gas.

Total apparent demand for natural gas was 12.4 billion cu m in October, an increase of 12.7% year on year, the NDRC said.

From January to October, total gas imports rose 37.6% year on year to 34.4 billion cu m, while total apparent demand for natural gas rose 14.1% to 118.7 billion cu m, the commission said.

Detailed import data for October is expected to be released by the General Administration of Customs later this week.