(Adds Dec calculations, milestone)
BEIJING, Jan 13 (Reuters) - China's December crude oil imports hit a record rate at about 8.56 million barrels per day, according to calculations based on official customs data released on Friday.
The Chinese customs said China's crude oil imports rose 13.6 percent in 2016 over a year earlier to 381 million tonnes, or aroud 7.62 million barrels per day.
The figures put China's December imports at about 36.37 million tonnes, or 8.56 million bpd, based on Reuters calculations, surpassing the previous record last September at 8.04 million bpd.
Official monthly data is expected later on Friday.
(tonne=7.3 barrels for crude oil)