China’s LNG imports down in August

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that the country received 6.35 million tonnes last month.

Imports rose compared to 5.44 million tonnes in the prior month, which marked a decrease of 6.7 percent year-on-year.

During January-August this year, China imported 41.77 million tonnes of LNG, a decrease of 16.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Natural gas imports, including pipeline gas, reached 11.85 million tonnes in August.

China’s pipeline imports rose 5.4 percent year-on-year in August to 5.51 million tonnes, the data shows.

GECF noted in its August report that China’s LNG imports “remained stable for the second consecutive month compared to the previous year.”

China’s natural gas imports rose by 9.9 percent to 131.69 million tonnes in 2024, the customs data previously showed, while LNG imports increased by 7.7 percent to 76.65 million tonnes last year, with China remaining the world’s largest LNG importer.

Japan was the world’s second-largest importer of LNG last year.

However, Japan overtook China this year as the world’s biggest LNG importer.

During January-August, Japan imported 42.75 million tonnes, some 0.98 million tonnes more than China.