China raises jet fuel price by 720 yuan/tonne-CAAC

HONG KONG, July 9 (Reuters) - China has raised prices for jet fuel sold to airlines by about 9 percent from July 1, aviation regulators and analysts said on Wednesday, keeping pace with sky-rocketing international prices.

The 720 yuan ($105) per tonne hike, confirmed by officials at China's civil aviation authority, follows a surprise increase in ex-refinery jet fuel prices of 1,500 yuan per tonne from June 20.

Analysts said that amounted to an increase of about 9 percent, and might put more pressure on the bottom line of carriers such as China Southern (1055.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) (600029.SS: Quote, Profile, Research) and Air China (0753.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) (601111.SS: Quote, Profile, Research).

Chinese authorities adjust jet fuel prices once a quarter under a mechanism in place from July 2006 that takes into account import costs, but which has in most of the past two years shielded airlines from soaring global oil prices. ($1=6.857 Yuan) (Reporting by Joanne Chiu; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)