China’s LNG imports have fallen on a year-on-year basis for the eighth consecutive month, Bloomberg reported on June 26 citing data from Kpler.

Imports of the super-chilled fuel in the world’s biggest importer of LNG are projected to be approximately 5mn tonnes in June. The figure represents a 12% dip from June 2024.

A strong supply of domestic and cheaper piped gas from Russia and Central Asia have kept inventory levels high. China has also encountered a slowing economy with weaker consumption growth in the industrial and chemical industries as well as experiencing a mild winter.

Forecasts from research firms predict 2025 will mark the first year of a decline in LNG imports since 2022, when China experienced weakened industrial demand stemming from the country’s zero-Covid policy that resulted in a strict and lengthy lockdown.

Predictions expect imports to be lower in 2025 by between 6% and 11% compared to 2024 levels.

The US’s trade war with China, and the subsequent halt of US LNG purchases by Beijing has also played a role. With Washington slapping tariffs on Chinese goods and Beijing responding by imposing tariffs on US LNG, China has begun re-exporting record levels of the super-cooled gas.

With high spot prices, Chinese firms reselling LNG cargoes on to other Asian countries as well as European destinations have capitalised on better profits.

Nevertheless, demand for LNG imports in China could still perk up over the remainder of the year as warmer weather has arrived during the start of summer in China, sparking an increase in electricity use for air cooling.

China passed Japan in 2023 to regain top spot as the world’s biggest LNG importer, when the country purchased 71mn tonnes compared to Japan’s 66mn tonnes.

In 2024, China purchased a total of 76.65mn tonnes of the super-chilled fuel.