UPDATE 2-China Oct crude imports near record as refiners up runs

* Oct crude imports at 4.55 mln bpd, up 19.7 pct on yr

* Refinery crude run up 10 pct yoy, only a tad below record

* Jan-Oct refined fuel exports up 38 pct; imports -6.6 pct

* here

* here

By Eadie Chen and Tom Miles

BEIJING, Nov 11 (Reuters) - China's crude imports and refinery throughput came in just below historical peaks in October, showing that oil demand continues a gradual revival from a sharp slowdown in late 2008 and early this year.

With the the world's third-largest economy showing more signs of a solid recovery, commentators are expecting strong oil demand growth to continue.

"China's expanding fuel consuming bases, especially soaring car sales, support strong crude oil processing and imports," said Yan Beina, an analyst with Guosen Securities.