China’s LNG imports set for summer spike
Volumes will rise along with temperatures amid rising demand and storage requirements
China’s LNG imports look set for double-digit growth this summer, shrugging off relatively high spot market prices as buyers ramp up purchases to satisfy robust gas demand and the need to refill inventories. Chinese LNG imports soared by more than one-third in April from a year ago, to 6.73mn t. This marked the second-fastest annual growth since April 2019 and the third-biggest monthly volume ever received by China, according to official customs data. The strong imports ahead of the summer demand season—when electricity consumption spikes from greater air conditioning use—have led industry analysts to revise up projections of China’s LNG imports over the second and third quarters. Gas resear
Also in this section
27 February 2026
LNG would serve as a backup supply source as domestic gas declines and the country’s energy system comes under stress during periods of low hydropower output and high energy demand
27 February 2026
The assumption that oil markets will re-route and work around sanctions is being tested, and it is the physical infrastructure that is acting as the constraint
27 February 2026
The 25th WPC Energy Congress to take place in tandem as part of a coordinated week of high-level ministerial, institutional and industry engagements
27 February 2026
The deepwater sector must be brave by fast-tracking projects and making progress to seize huge offshore opportunities and not become bogged down by capacity constraints and consolidation






