China’s LNG imports slightly up in January-February

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that China received 10.53 million tonnes during the two months.

In January, Chinese LNG terminals received 6.67 million tonnes, a rise of 10.5 percent year-on-year, while February LNG imports dropped 13.9 percent year-on-year to 3.86 million tonnes.

Natural gas imports, including pipeline gas, reached 20.02 million tonnes in January-February.

China’s pipeline imports dropped 2.5 percent year-on-year to 9.48 million tonnes, the data shows.

The Administration releases combined import data for January and February due to the Lunar New Year holiday.

China reported a 10.6 percent year-on-year decline in LNG imports to 68.43 million tonnes of LNG last year.

The country’s LNG imports jumped to 8.48 million tonnes in December last year, up 19.9 percent year-on-year.

This was the highest monthly figure in 2025.

During the first two months of this year, Japan, the world’s second-largest LNG importer, imported more LNG than China.

Japan’s LNG terminals took approximately 12.06 million tonnes, 1.53 million tonnes more than China.