China’s LNG imports down in November

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that the country received 6.15 million tonnes last month, down 8.7 percent year-on-year.

The data shows that during January-November, China imported 69.61 million tonnes of LNG, a rise of 10.7 percent year over year.

This also compares to 71.36 million tonnes China imported during January-November in 2021, which was a record year for China’s LNG imports with 78.93 million tonnes.

Natural gas imports, including pipeline gas, reached about 10.79 million tonnes last month, down 1.4 percent compared to 10.95 million tonnes in November 2023.

China’s pipeline imports rose 12 percent year-on-year in November to 4.65 million tonnes.

GECF said in its November report that China’s LNG imports declined due to high gas and LNG storage levels, stronger pipeline gas imports, and increased domestic production.

According to GECF, LNG imports in Asia Pacific increased slightly by 0.2 percent year-on-year to 22.94 Mt, which is the weakest LNG imports since June 2024.

China reported a jump in its LNG imports in October, and the country received 6.55 million tonnes in October, up 28 percent year-on-year.

September LNG imports rose by 21.7 percent to 6.84 million tonnes.

China’s LNG imports rose 12.6 percent in 2023, overtaking Japan as the world’s largest LNG importer.

The country received about 71.32 million tonnes in the January-December period last year.

China will remain the world’s largest LNG importer this year.

Japan imported some 9 million tonnes of LNG less than China during January-October this year.