China's natural gas consumption growth for the first two months of 2013 slowed by more than half from a year earlier, according to figures from the country's top economic planner.

National Development and Reform Commission said that apparent consumption in January and February rose by 14.7% to 29.7 billion cubic metres on the back of demand for gas heating. That was down significantly from the 35.9% growth rate recorded for the same two months in 2012.