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
29 April 2026
The UAE’s exit from the alliance marks a decisive step towards a world in which oil markets are shaped less by collective management and more by national strategy
29 April 2026
Trafigura’s $1b prepayment agreement confirms African resource holders’ renewed interest in oil-backed financing deals as they look to capitalise on high oil prices
29 April 2026
The UAE’s departure from the oil producers’ group was a surprise to many, but the move can be traced back to a single point five years ago
28 April 2026
Oil traders warning of $200/bl oil are wrong, and the market should be wary of proclamations that the impact of the oil shortage has only begun to be felt and a that a ‘harsh adjustment’ is coming—even for industrialised nations






