China’s March LNG imports rise 16.9 percent

China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports rose for the second month in a row in March, according to customs data.

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows that the country received about 5.36 million tonnes in March, a rise of 16.9 percent when compared to the same month last year.

China imported 16.43 million tonnes of LNG during the first quarter of this year, down by 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

In February, China received 5.21 million tonnes of LNG, up by 8.2 percent when compared to the last year, while in January LNG imports dropped by 24.2 percent to 5.91 million tonnes.

Including pipeline gas, China’s gas imports dropped by 3.6 percent in January-March to 26.77 million tonnes.

The country’s pipeline gas imports rose by 4.4 percent in March to 3.51 million tonnes, the data shows.

Japan was the world’s top liquefied natural gas importer in 2022, overtaking China, but both of the countries took fewer volumes when compared to the year before.

China received about 63.44 million tonnes of LNG last year, down 19.5 percent year on year, as Covid-19 lockdowns and high prices curbed demand for LNG in China.

However, China has started to relax Covid-related measures in December last year and spot prices dropped considerably this year.

The JKM for June settled at $12.490/MMBtu on Monday.

PipeChina recently said that its Yuedong LNG import terminal in southern China’s Guangdong province has received a record monthly number of vessels in March since its launch in 2017.

The state-owned firm, which operates seven LNG import terminals and is building three new facilities, noted that the LNG market in 2023 is benefiting from the slowdown of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fall in spot LNG prices.

Most Popular

Canada’s Cedar LNG names FLNG

Canada’s Cedar LNG, a joint venture of Canada’s Pembina Pipeline and the Haisla Nation, has picked a name for its floating LNG facility, which will be located in the traditional territory of the Haisla Nation, on Canada’s West Coast.

NextDecade, Jera seal 20-year LNG SPA

Japan's Jera has signed a 20-year deal to buy liquefied natural gas from the planned fifth train at NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG facility in Texas.

US weekly LNG exports reach 29 cargoes

US liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants shipped 29 cargoes during the week ending May 28. According to the Energy Information Administration, pipeline deliveries to the LNG terminals remained unchanged compared to the prior week.

More News Like This

GIIGNL: 2024 LNG imports increased 1 percent to 406 million tons

Global LNG imports reached 406 million tons in 2024, increasing by 1 percent compared with the previous year, according to the newest annual report by the international group of LNG importers, GIIGNL.

BP inks LNG SPA with China’s Zhejiang Energy

UK-based energy giant BP has signed a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal with China's Zhejiang Energy.

ConocoPhillips seals Chinese LNG supply deal

US energy giant ConocoPhillips has signed a long-term LNG supply deal with China's Guangdong Pearl River Investment Management Group.

China’s LNG imports continue to decrease

China reported a 24.8 percent drop in its LNG imports in April, while its pipeline gas imports increased by 23.6 percent compared to the same month last year.