Russia raises oil shipments by 28pc

Russia increased oil shipments to China by 28 per cent in the first half of 2005, Russia’s state-controlled railway said yesterday, as China continues to gobble up energy supplies from its giant neighbour.In a statement posted on its Web site, Russian Railways said the company shipped 3.75 million tonnes of oil to China between January and June.

China’s burgeoning economy has made it a huge customer for Russian oil, which it currently receives only by rail.