China’s January-June LNG imports drop almost 21 percent

China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports declined by 20.8 percent in the first half of this year, according to customs data.

Data from the General Administration of Customs shows the country received about 31.26 million tonnes in the period under review, compared to about 39.78 million tonnes last year.

China’s LNG imports dropped this year mainly due to very high spot LNG prices and Covid lockdowns, which affected economic activity.

In June, China took some 4.82 million tonnes of LNG, down 26 percent when compared to the same month last year. June imports dropped slightly when compared to the prior month’s 4.93 million tonnes.

On the other side, China’s pipeline gas imports increased in January-June.

Pipeline imports rose by 11.3 percent to 22.32 million tonnes, while in June these imports increased by 11.5 percent to 3.90 million tonnes, the data said.

China became the world’s largest LNG importer last year, overtaking Japan, but the latter regained the title this year. Japan is yet to release official data for LNG imports in June.

During the January-May period, Japan imported some 31.72 million tonnes of LNG, or more than five million tonnes of LNG compared to China’s volumes.

- Advertisements -

Most Popular

VTTI, IKAV to take majority stake in Italy’s Adriatic LNG terminal

Rotterdam-based storage terminal owner VTTI, co-owned by Vitol, IFM, and Adnoc, joined forces with German asset manager IKAV to...

Seapeak says working on charter and other opportunities for six LNG carriers

Stonepeak's Seapeak is pursuing various opportunities relating to six of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers which are scheduled...

Deutsche ReGas: Mukran FSRU welcomes first LNG tanker

LNG terminal operator Deutsche ReGas has received the first LNG tanker at its FSRU-based LNG import facility in Germany’s...

More News Like This

China’s LNG imports rise 19.3 percent in January-February

China, the world's largest liquefied natural gas importer, increased its LNG imports by 19.3 percent in January-February compared to...

CNOOC raises roof on giant Zhejiang LNG tank

A unit of China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) has completed lifting the roof on one 270,000-cbm tank as...

China boosts gas imports in January-February

China’s natural gas imports, including pipeline gas and LNG, rose in January-February compared to the same period last year,...

CNOOC’s Zhejiang LNG terminal gets 600th cargo

CNOOC's Ningbo LNG import facility in the Chinese province of Zhejiang has received the 600th cargo of liquefied natural...