China boosts gas imports in March

China’s natural gas imports, including pipeline gas and LNG, rose in March compared to the same month last year, according to customs data.

Natural gas imports during the last month reached about 10.75 million tonnes, rising 21.3 percent compared to some 8.86 million tonnes in March 2023, the data from the General Administration of Customs shows.

China paid about $5.2 billion for gas imports last month.

During January-March, China’s gas imports reached 32.79 million tonnes, a rise of 22.8 percent year-on-year.

The world’s largest LNG importer paid about $16.5 billion for gas imports in January-March, down 1.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

There is currently no official data for LNG imports in March.

China’s LNG imports increased by 19.3 percent to 13.20 million tonnes in January-February.

In January, China’s LNG import terminals took 7.25 million tonnes of LNG, up by 22.9 percent year-on-year, while in February LNG imports rose 15.2 percent to 5.95 million tonnes.

Chinese buyers were buying spot LNG cargoes due to low JKM prices and also to rebuild inventory after the Lunar New Year holiday.

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

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

This is a rise compared to about 63.44 million tonnes of LNG in 2022 when imports dropped due to very high spot LNG prices and Covid lockdowns.

China’s 2023 LNG imports dropped compared to record 78.93 million tonnes in 2021.

Most Popular

Inpex launches Abadi LNG FEED work

Japan's Inpex has launched the front-end engineering design (FEED) work for the Abadi LNG project in Indonesia. The contractors include Technip Energies, JGC, Saipem, Tripatra, McDermott, and Worley.

Technip Energies expects ‘important’ LNG awards in next 18 months, CEO says

LNG engineering giant Technip Energies is confident in its positioning for "important" LNG awards in the next 6-to-18 months, with the US expected to be one of the most active regions, according to CEO Arnaud Pieton.

Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG to commission fourth tank

US LNG exporter Venture Global LNG has received approval from the US FERC to commission the fourth storage tank with LNG at its Plaquemines plant in Louisiana.

More News Like This

Yangzijiang wraps up roof raising on two LNG storage tanks

Chinese private shipyard Yangzijiang Shipbuilding has completed raising the roofs on two LNG storage tanks at its Yangzi Jiasheng terminal.

IEA: global LNG trade up 4 percent in H1

Global LNG trade growth accelerated to 4 percent (12 bcm) in the first half of 2025, with exporters adding about 60 percent more LNG supply to the market than was added in the whole of 2024, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency.

China’s LNG imports down 4.5 percent in June

China reported a 4.5 percent drop in its LNG imports in June, while its pipeline gas imports increased by 9.1 percent compared to the same month last year.

GECF: LNG imports surge in June

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports surged by 9.4 percent year-on-year in June, marking the strongest annual increase since November 2022, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum said in its latest report.