BEIJING Oct 21 - China's implied oil demand in September rose 6.2 percent from a year earlier at about 8.68 million barrels per day, Reuters calculations based on preliminary official figures showed on Thursday.

The demand figure, which excludes inventory changes that China rarely reports, just falls short of the record high in June at 8.9 million bpd.

The growth rate, which eases off the double-digit base seen during most of the first half of 2010, came on top of a strong base in September 2009 when demand rose the fastest in three years.

(Reporting by Chen Aizhu and Jim Bai; Editing by Ken Wills)

Source: http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFBJK00008320101021