Cumulative　exergy　consumption　(CExC),　which　represents　the　total　exergy　of　natural　resources　required　to　provide　a　product,　is　an　appropriate　indicator　for　quantifying　the　depletion　of　natural　resource.　The　objective　of　this　study　is　to　determine　the　CExC　values　of　the　principal　energy　carriers　in　China,　which　is　the　largest　energy　producer　in　the　world,　through　the　matrix　method　(balance　equation).　The　results　show　that　electricity　has　the　largest　CExC　value　among　different　energy　carriers,　followed　by　oil-refining　products,　coal　products　and　fossil　fuels.　The　results　also　show　that　matrix　method　can　get　more　accurate　results　than　process　method　(sequence　method)　for　energy　carriers　owing　to　the　flow　loops　in　energy　industry.